PSG readies for Liverpool with 4-0 thrashing
French reigning champions in form even without Mbappe, Neymar
Paris Saint-Germain’s margin is so big that the reigning champions don’t even need Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to thrash rival French teams.
PSG got ready for next week’s Champions League opener at Liverpool with a 4-0 win over Saint-Etienne at the Parc des Princes on Friday, extending their perfect record to five league games.
Mbappe served the first of his three-match ban while Neymar was rested by coach Thomas Tuchel after playing with Brazil in a friendly game against El Salvador midweek in the US. Without his two star players, Tuchel gave Julian Draxler a start, a move that paid off as the German international put the hosts in front with a header in the 22nd minute after a long pass by Marco Verrati.
Edinson Cavani made it 2-0 in the 51st after being fouled in the area for his third goal this season, and Angel Di Maria added the third near the end with a powerful leftfooted shot from a tight angle. Substitute forward Moussa Diaby completed the win with his first goal in the top tier in the 84th.
PSG handed 10-time champion Saint-Etienne its first loss this season and extended its lead over secondplaced Dijon to six points. Dijon hosts Angers on Saturday.
Tuchel, who was appointed this summer as a replacement for Unai Emery, set a new club record by becoming the first coach to win his five opening league matches in his first season.
Snatching five wins from five matches and tallying 17 goals into the season, PSG sat atop the league table, expecting much more challenge from their duel against Liverpool.
Nice made a late comeback to upset Rennes 2-1 at home. Despite missing Italian forward Mario Balotelli and going 0-1 down on Malang Sarr’s own goal, Nice managed to savour the victory through goals from Allan Saint-Maximin and Pierre Lees-Melou in the final 15 minutes.
The other two Champions League contenders will feature in Saturday’s action on road, with Lyon visiting Caen and Monaco facing Toulouse.