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Paris Saint-Germain 2 Bastia 0: Dominant champions cruise to victory

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 8 Jan 2016

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Paris Saint-Germain moved 22 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 as first-half goals from Thiago Silva and Maxwell secured a regulation 2-0 victory over Bastia.

The result in the first league match back following the mid-season break extended the reigning champions’ unbeaten league run to 29 games as they canter to a fourth successive title.

Bastia had arrived in the capital bolstered by two wins and a draw in December that had seen them clamber out of the relegation zone.

But Ghislain Printant’s men are yet to win on their travels this season and rarely threatened to improve upon that record once Thiago Silva headed the home side in front after 29 minutes.

And, after Maxwell doubled PSG’s lead just before the break, an eighth home league win of the season for Laurent Blanc’s side was all but assured.

In a niggly and largely uninspiring opening quarter, the only two chances of note both fell the way of Bastia midfielder Seko Fofana.

The on-loan Manchester City man first dragged a low shot wastefully wide after a swift counter-attack and was then similarly off-target with a speculative right-foot strike from close to 30 yards out.

Despite having looked rather laboured in possession, however, PSG took the lead with their first effort on the Bastia goal.

Angel di Maria’s corner reached Thiago Silva, who had ghosted in at the far post, and his header had already crossed the line before Thiago Motta made sure by scrambling it into the net.

Having broken the deadlock, the home side proceeded to dominate the remainder of the first half, Lucas Moura heading over before fellow Brazilian Maxwell made it 2-0 after 39 minutes.

Di Maria again claimed the assist with a delightful flighted throughball and Maxwell finished in style with a stunning angled volley. 

As the second half progressed, PSG opened up the Bastia defence on an increasingly regular basis, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura all seeing goalbound efforts blocked.

Sebastien Squillaci did cause a rare anxious moment for the home defence when he pounced upon a fumble by goalkeeper Kevin Trapp on 70 minutes, but the danger was cleared and normal service was swiftly restored as substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi came within inches of making it 3-0 with a curling effort from just inside the box.

Squillaci almost inadvertently added a third for PSG in the 90th minute when he headed Lavezzi’s cross against the frame of his own goal.

 

Key Opta stats: 

– PSG have never lost against Bastia at home in Ligue 1 (W21 D7). Bastia are the team who have played the most Ligue 1 games at Parc des Princes without winning.
– Blanc’s men are the only team still unbeaten in the Top 5 European leagues this season.
– Bastia have lost 28 of their 33 away games against a title holder in Ligue 1 (W3 D2).
– Thiago Motta made 174 touches and 164 passes, highest tallies in a Ligue 1 game over the last 10 seasons.

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