Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 4-1 victory over bottom club ESTAC Troyes at the Parc des Princes on Saturday to extend their Ligue 1 lead to 15 points.
Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Layvin Kurzawa and Jean-Kevin Augustin scored as Laurent Blanc’s side made it nine consecutive league wins.
It was PSG’s first home match since the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 and injured at least 350.
Photo: AP
“To be autumn champions is a good thing … as it confirms that we are taking an enormous amount of points It is no guarantee of ending the season as champions. What interests us is to be champions [at the end],” Blanc said.
Cavani responded to Blanc’s recent calls for him to find the net more regularly by opening the scoring in the 20th minute, meeting Angel di Maria’s audacious cross with a measured volley.
The home side lacked the focus and intensity that has characterized some of their recent victories, but never looked like losing their lead.
PSG doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Ibrahimovic scored from the penalty spot after Chris Mavinga brought Lucas Moura down.
Kurzawa made it 3-0 with a superb volley from outside the area before substitute Augustin added a fourth in the 84th minute, four minutes after coming on as a substitute, when his long-range shot was misjudged by goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni.
ESTAC responded when Thomas Ayasse curled an effort over Kevin Trapp in stoppage-time.
Angers SCO are up to second place after a 2-0 victory over Lille OSC, for whom Frederic Antonetti was making his debut in the dugout.
Gilles Sunu netted after 20 minutes before Ismael Traore added a second goal five minutes later to end a four-match run without a victory for Angers.
Lille, who are third from bottom, have now gone six games without a win.
Stade Rennais drew 2-2 at Stade de Reims, who had coach Olivier Guegan sent to the stands after protesting against a 64th-minute red card given to Jaba Kankava.
The point ended Reims’ six-game losing streak, but they remained in 15th place on 16 points, six behind Rennes, who are seventh.
Gazalec Ajaccio’s winning run came to an end after a 1-1 draw at home to Lorient, with the league’s top goalscorer, Benjamin Moukandjo, notching his 11th goal of the season for the visitors.
Toulouse beat 10-man OGC Nice 2-0, while Nantes and SC Bastia played out a goalless draw.
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