Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second-half brace on Saturday guided Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-0 victory at SC Bastia, as the reigning champions extended their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Ibrahimovic slotted home the opener in the 72nd minute after he was set up by Edinson Cavani, despite the Uruguayan being offside in the build-up.
The Sweden striker then netted his second of the contest seven minutes from time.
Photo: AFP
It was a far from convincing performance from Laurent Blanc’s men, but the result kept PSG five points clear of Angers SCO and Stade Malherbe Caen at the top.
“I am very happy with the three points,” Blanc said. “Our preparation has not been ideal, with players returning very late [from the international break] and having traveled long distances.”
Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu made his first start of the season in place of the injured Kevin Trapp, while PSG were also without Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti and David Luiz.
Angel di Maria was rested, while Adrien Rabiot and Benjamin Stambouli were handed starts in central midfield.
Second-placed Angers continued their remarkable return to the French top flight, as goals from Cheikh Ndoye and Abdoul Camara saw them win 2-1 at Toulouse after falling behind to an Oscar Trejo strike.
Caen stayed third, level on points with Angers, as Julien Feret’s second-half effort steered them to a 1-0 victory away to Stade de Reims.
AS Saint-Etienne bounced back from consecutive defeats, with Robert Beric and Kevin Monnet-Paquet on target in a 2-0 win over bottom side Gazelec Ajaccio.
Goals from Valentin Rongier, Youssouf Sabaly and Yacine Bammou steered Nantes to a 3-0 victory over ESTAC Troyes, while En Avant de Guingamp striker Jimmy Briand canceled out Sofiane Boufal’s opener for Lille OSC in a 1-1 draw.
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