Paris Saint-Germain brush aside Dijon to go top of Ligue 1

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:56 am

Paris Saint-Germain reclaimed their familiar spot atop Ligue 1 thanks to a comfortable 3-0 home win over struggling Dijon on Tuesday night.

An Adam Lang own goal followed by an Edinson Cavani penalty and second-half Lucas Moura strike saw four-time defending champions PSG back on top of the pile, at least for 24 hours.

Erstwhile leaders Monaco or Nice can move back above PSG when they clash on Wednesday night, while Metz could also leap-frog the capital club if they beat Bordeaux.

The first chance of the match fell the hosts' way, but Lucas Moura fired agonisingly wide on 12 minutes after a neat Angel Di Maria pass teed up the Brazilian.

But, just three minutes later, PSG broke the deadlock when Lang deflected Maxwell's delivery beyond his own keeper.

And Cavani made it two from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Adrien Rabiot was felled inside the area in what was proving to be routine evening for the champions.

Dijon did muster a response, though, and PSG keeper Alphonse Areola was called into action, gathering Mehdi Abeid's volley from distance with relative ease before the same player saw an effort come back off the crossbar just moments later.

Di Maria nearly added a third just before the break with a wonderful curling effort that almost tucked just inside the post.

PSG's Lucas, left, challenges Dijon's Pierre Lees-Melou for the ball in their Ligue 1 match.
PSG's Lucas, left, challenges Dijon's Pierre Lees-Melou for the ball in their Ligue 1 match.
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The former Manchester United forward continued to torment the Dijon defence after the restart and tested Baptiste Reynet with a stinging drive but, thankfully for the visiting keeper, Di Maria's effort was straight down the middle.

Unsurprisingly, Unai Emery's men added to their tally in the 67th minute when Maxwell lifted a cross into the area and Lucas rose to head beyond Reynet for a third PSG goal.

Presnel Kimpembe almost added a fourth late on but his header was pushed over the bar by Reynet while.At the other end, Frederic Sammaritano twice went close to a consolation for the visitors, but Areola came up trumps on both occasions to keep a clean sheet for the hosts.