Di Maria makes PSG debut in easy win over Monaco

Simon Foster 06:57 31/08/2015
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  • Super: PSG celebrate.

    Angel Di Maria made his debut as a second half substitute as champions Paris Saint-Germain maintained their perfect start to the season with a 3-0 win at Monaco ons Sunday night.

    Argentine Di Maria played his first 24 minutes for the Parisians following a €63 million (Dh259m) move from Manchester United and even set up PSG’s final goal. But it was Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani who was the hero, notching a brace before Ezequiel Lavezzi finished off the scoring.

    Cavani’s first was a bullet header into the top corner and the second a simple side-foot finish from 12 yards. The win put PSG three points clear of the pack as Monaco remained in mid-table.

    Cavani had the best chance of the opening period a couple of minutes before the break, but picked out by Maxwell’s inch-perfect pass, he swiped wildly at the ball, which hit his standing leg before bobbling wide. But he broke the deadlock on 57 minutes with a bullet header into the top corner from Blaise Matuidi’s pinpoint cross, leaving goalkeeper Danijel Subasic a helpless spectator.

    Moments later, Matuidi blew a one-on-one chance with Subasic with a poor first touch before the goalkeeper eventually saved his tame, low, curling shot.

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    Di Maria entered the fray on 66 minutes in the place of Lucas Moura and should have had his first assist for the club almost immediately, but after arrowing an inchperfect ball into the box, Cavani directed his free header straight at Subosic.

    But Cavani did not need to wait long for his second and showed a predator’s instincts on 73 minutes as Monaco’s backline stood off Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who slipped in the Uruguayan between full-back and centre-back for an easy finish.

    Serge Aurier squandered a great chance with a sliced shot after bursting into the box although Cavani was in perfect position in front of goal to complete his hat-trick.

    Seven minutes from time, substitute Lavezzi, who’d replaced Ibrahimovic, ran onto a searing long ball from Di Maria to lash home a thunderous volley.

    Elsewhere, a first ever St Etienne goal for Valentin Eysseric helped his side secure a 2-1 home win against nine-man Bastia last night.

    The writing was on the wall for the hosts as early as the fourth minute when Alexander Djiku was given his marching orders for a professional foul before Loic Perrin made the visitors pay further, pouncing on a poorly-cleared corner to open the scoring.

    Bastia were offered hope just before the break, though, when Gael Danic deceived Stephane Ruffier with a tight-angled finish.

    However, St Etienne reclaimed the lead in fine style as Valentin Eyserric opened his Les Verts account in stunning fashion from 25 yards before Francois Kamano was dismissed late on.

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