Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the first goal and set up the winner for Angel di Maria as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 away at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille on Sunday, extending their record unbeaten league run to 34 matches and maintaining their massive 24-point lead.
Ibrahimovic pounced in the second minute with his 21st league goal of the season, then created Di Maria’s goal in the 71st after winger Remy Cabella equalized midway through the first half.
However, PSG’s winning goal was largely down to an error by Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. France’s No. 2 goalkeeper hesitated before coming off his line to close down Ibrahimovic on the right touchline.
Ibrahimovic moved the ball away from him and, with Mandanda backtracking, picked out Di Maria just inside the penalty area. Di Maria cut inside a defender and placed the ball into the bottom-right corner, with Mandanda still out of position.
In a hostile atmosphere inside the Stade Velodrome, Di Maria appeared to goad the home fans with a hand gesture after his goal, as did midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc conceded his side were perhaps fortunate to win.
“Marseille caused us a lot of problems,” Blanc said.
“They shook us up and we made too many technical mistakes. We’re losing the ball too quickly at the moment and lack patience,” he said.
However, PSG can always count on Ibrahimovic and they have not lost in the league since March 15 last year.
“No team is unbeatable, but if we carry on like this, I think we can continue until the end without losing,” PSG captain Thiago Silva said.
Earlier on Sunday, AS Saint-Etienne romped to a 4-1 victory at Girondins de Bordeaux to move level on points with third-placed OGC Nice.
Midfielder Vincent Pajot and new signing Oussama Tannane scored inside the first seven minutes, then strikers Alexander Soderlund and Nolan Roux netted in the second half.
Nice lead Saint-Etienne on goal-difference, six points behind AS Monaco.
Also on Sunday, Eder scored his first goal for Lille OSC, but Ousmane Dembele’s 89th-minute spot-kick earned Stade Rennais a 1-1 draw.
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