Cavani lifts PSG as Barca test looms
Illarramendi’s long-range strike helps Sociedad leapfrog Atletico Madrid into fourth position
Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria stole the show in Paris Saint Germain’s 3-0 win at Bordeaux on Friday in an ideal warm-up for this week’s Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Marco Verratti was back for PSG after sitting out their last four games with a calf injury.
He joined his fellow Italian Thiago Motta — suspended for the Barcelona game — and Adrien Rabiot in midfield.
PSG coach Unai Emery also welcomed back first choice keeper Kevin Trapp with the German enjoying a generally hassle free return to work.
Thiago Silva was given the night off to freshen up for the Valentine’s Day Champions League last 16 first leg date with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
The captain’s shoes in central defence against the side PSG had knocked out of the French Cup quarter-finals were filled by Presnel Kimpembe.
“It was important to win because there’s another goal to achieve,” said Trapp.
“We have put a little more pressure on the other teams. It was a clean match and good preparation for Tuesday.”
Stared
As in that 4-1 defeat last month that propelled PSG into a fourth straight Cup final it was Cavani and Di Maria who starred.
Cavani’s neatly executed one-touch volley put PSG into a sixth minute lead after Vokasin Jovanovic’s failed attempt to head Marquinhos’ cross from the right out of danger.
Unfortunately for the Bordeaux defender Cavani was on hand to work his magic and take his Ligue 1 haul to a personal best ever 24 goals from only 25 games.
With PSG bossing the encounter Di Maria deservedly doubled their advantage as half-time approached.
His cheeky chip over Bordeaux keeper Cedric Carrasso came after a neat link-up from Lucas and Verratti with the Italian midfielder delivering the assist to Di Maria.
The sound of the referee’s whistle for the restart had barely disappeared when Cavani picked up a cross from the left from Di Maria to strike the ball with his first touch past Carrasso.
That took the red-hot Uruguayan’s scoring percentage to one goal a game.
In Madrid, Asier Illarramendi’s brilliant 25-yard strike just after the hour mark saw Real Sociedad leapfrog Atletico Madrid into fourth in La Liga with a 2-1 win at Espanyol.
Sociedad move two points ahead of Atletico, who host Celta Vigo on Sunday, in the final Champions League place but remain two points adrift of third-placed Sevilla.