Ibrahimovic leads PSG past Bastia
PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second-half brace guided Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-0 victory at Bastia yesterday as the reigning champions extended their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Ibrahimovic slotted home the opener on 72 minutes at the Stade Armand Cesari after he was set up by Edinson Cavani despite the Uruguayan being offside in the build-up.
The Swede then netted his second of the contest seven minutes from time as Paris registered their fourth straight league win and avenged last season’s shock 4-2 defeat in Corsica.
It was a far from convincing performance from Laurent Blanc’s men but the result provisionally moved Paris eight points clear at the top with nearest challengers Angers and Caen in action later on.
Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu made his first start of the season in place of the injured Kevin Trapp, while PSG were also without Blaise Matuidi due to suspension as well as injured duo Marco Verratti and David Luiz. Meanwhile, Angel di Maria was rested ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash at home to Real Madrid with Adrien Rabiot and Benjamin Stambouli handed starts in central midfield.
Javier Pastore’s diving header that skipped wide of the post on 20 minutes represented the visitors’ best chance in a fairly uneventful first half.
There was a hairy moment for Sirigu, however, on his return to the side as a poor pass from the Italian was pounced upon by Gael Danic but the ‘keeper redeemed himself by blocking at the feet of the Bastia midfielder just before the half-hour.
Ibrahimovic had the ball in the back of the net just after half-time but his effort was correctly ruled out for offside, while Bastia ‘keeper Jean-Louis Leca held well from a crisply-struck Cavani volley on the hour. Rabiot then planted a header straight at Leca following a corner but Paris eventually made the breakthrough, albeit in controversial circumstances.
Cavani latched on to a clipped ball over the top from Pastore and then showed excellent composure as he teed up Ibrahimovic to slot home from close range, but Bastia were left feeling agrieved as replays indicated the Uruguayan was in a clear offside position as he broke in behind the defence. The Swede then made the points safe on 83 minutes with his second straight brace, having netted both goals in a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Marseille before the international break, as he tucked away a cutback from Serge Aurier.
Former Manchester United defender Rafael salvaged a 1-1 draw with an 85thminute equaliser for Lyon at ten-man Monaco on Friday. Mario Pasalic, on loan from Chelsea, netted his first Ligue 1 goal to put Monaco in front on 39 minutes but the home side were unable to hold on after Wallace was sent off midway through the second half for a horror tackle on Rachid Ghezzal. —AFP