PSG sweep former Nimes as troubled Marseille blow two-goal lead
Paris Saint-Germain shrugged off the lack of a suspended Neymar to defeat basement side Nimes 3-0 in Ligue 1 on Wednesday, even though crisis-hit rivals Marseille have slip a two-goal business lead against Lens.
Angel di Maria pounced on a misplaced move to steer PSG ahead on 17 minutes in the Parc des Princes, with Pablo Sarabia heading in a cross from the Argentine to double the benefit.
Thilo Kehrer rattled the crossbar at a corner before PSG goalkeeper Sergio Rico, again completing for the injured Keylor Navas, reacted sharply to hint over from Lamine Fomba.
Kylian Mbappe bagged a third for the hosts midway through the next half with a exceptional curling strike from 20 yards, his league-leading 15th goal of the growing season.
PSG surrendered top place at the weekend following a shock 3-2 loss in Lorient, Mauricio Pochettino's initially defeat since taking charge, and remain three details back again of leaders Lille ahead of Sunday's trip to Marseille.
"It's an excellent reaction after the disappointment of the defeat at Lorient," said Pochettino. "The team created chances and controlled the match."
"We didn't play the two halves with the same intensity, the players probably had Sunday's game on the mind a tad," he added.
"We'll must be at our ideal for 90 minutes after that, like in the Champions Trophy."
After three group defeats in a row, Marseille surged 2-0 in advance at Lens as Florian Thauvin and Arkadiusz Milik, making his first start for the club, struck near to the end of the initially half.
But Florian Sotoca halved the deficit immediately after half-time and Facundo Medina flicked in the equaliser with an hour gone, the 2-2 pull leaving Marseille with just one win in 10 game titles in all competitions.
Nasser Larguet, head of the club's academy, took control of the group following a suspension of coach Andre-Villas-Boas on Tuesday. The Portuguese possessed earlier wanted to resign carrying out a row over transfers.
"When you lead 2-0 you could have regrets, but I'm very pleased with the players," stated Larguet.
"They lived up to goals in conditions of commitment. I have my hat off to them since it was difficult actually at the end.
"I'm sure there's a solid link between your physical and mental aspect and recent situations have left a mark on the players because they were very mounted on the coach."
- Five in a row -
Lille recorded their fifth consecutive victory with a 3-0 win in Bordeaux.
Yusuf Yazici, Timothy Weah and Jonathan David scored second-half goals just as Lille stayed out before chasing duo Lyon and PSG.
Turkey worldwide Yazici slammed a complete from Jonathan Bamba in to the roof of the web on 54 minutes as Lille eventually broke downwards Bordeaux.
US intercontinental Weah then applied the finishing contact from a Luiz Araujo lay-off as the Brazilian ran free from the Bordeaux defence carrying out a blistering counter-attack only past the hour.
Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a superb reflex save to carefully turn away Hwang Ui-jo's header, and the site visitors added a later third through Canadian alternative David.
"That which was the difference tonight? The squad and Mike (Maignan) who was simply key element. Benoit (Costil) didn't possess many saves to create and Mike possessed three, he retained us in the meet," said Lille trainer Christophe Galtier.
Lyon stay two tips behind Lille after their 1-0 victory in struggling Dijon, who are still winless at home this term.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta collected a complete from Karl Toko Ekambi to slot on the game's sole goal on 22 minutes.
Monaco managed to get six wins from six found in the new year seeing that captain Wissam Ben Yedder netted twice in a 2-1 victory above Cote d'Azur neighbours Fine.
Ben Yedder's first-50 % penalty was cancelled out by a Pierre Lees-Melou goal, but the France striker rifled in a free-kick from distance to retain Niko Kovac's side within touch of the most notable three.
Fifth-located Rennes conceded a later equaliser in a 1-1 draw in the home to resurgent Lorient.
Metz extended their unbeaten set you back six matches carrying out a 1-1 pull with Montpellier, even while Brest drew 2-2 in Strasbourg and the overall game between Reims and Angers finished goalless.
Raymond Domenech's search for a first win seeing that Nantes boss continues carrying out a 1-1 draw at Saint-Etienne.
