Ibrahimovic brace leads Paris Saint-Germain in easy win over Lyon
PARIS - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain beat Lyon 5-1 to open up a 17-point lead at the top of the French league on Sunday, glossing over yet another blunder from goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
Ibrahimovic, the club's all-time leading scorer, put PSG ahead in the 11th minute with a neat finish and right back Sergie Aurier made it 2-0 when he headed in Angel di Maria's cross just six minutes later. Striker Edinson Cavani almost made it 3-0 just moments later when he poked wide, but Lyon was handed an unexpected lifeline in the 24th.
Trapp was caught straying way off his line when midfielder Jordan Ferri tried a speculative shot from 25 meters and, as he backpedalled, haplessly pushed the ball into this own net. Trapp did the same two weeks ago, when PSG beat Troyes 4-1.
Sunday's gaffe was the German goalie's fifth significant mistake he has made this season in a side that has faced hardly any pressure so far - raising doubts as to whether he is equipped to play at the top level PSG strives for in Europe. Shortly after his mistake, PSG's fans ironically cheered Trapp when he caught a routine high ball.
Thankfully, all is well in attack, with Cavani turning in Di Maria's cross from the left flank in the 61st minute. Ibrahimovic then punished a foul by defender Henri Bedimo to make it 4-1 from the penalty spot in the 77th, his 12th goal in 10 games.
Di Maria rounded off with his third assist of the night, supplying the pass for substitute Lucas to run through and fire a powerful shot into the left corner in injury time.
In a further boost for coach Laurent Blanc, midfielder Marco Verratti returned from injury and replaced Adrien Rabiot for the last 20 minutes. Although Lyon secured a morale-boosting 2-0 win away to Valencia in the Champions League in midweek, coach Hubert Fournier's side has lost four and drawn one of its past five league games, and is 22 points behind PSG in sixth spot.
Angers and Monaco are 17 points behind PSG but newly-promoted Angers - which equalized late on in a 1-1 home draw with Bordeaux - leads Monaco on goal difference.
Earlier, emerging Brazil right back Fabinho's late penalty earned Monaco a 1-0 win against Saint-Etienne, which was clinging on after defender Kevin Malcuit was sent off midway through the second half for fouling midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Fabinho forced goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier into a save just before his 82nd-minute goal, which came after defender Pierre-Yves Polomat handled the ball. The 22-year-old Fabinho, who recently broke into the national team, confidently beat Ruffier to his right.
Angers had center half Romain Thomas to thank as he scored from close range in the 83rd after Bordeaux failed to properly defend a corner. Uruguay forward Diego Rolan put Bordeaux ahead in the 40th with his second goal of the season.
Marseille had midfielder Abdelaziz Barrada sent off early in the second half as it rallied to a 1-1 home draw against Corsican side Gazelec Ajaccio. After Cameroon forward Jacques Zoua put Gazelec ahead from the penalty side from the penalty spot in the 19th, Marseille top scorer Michy Batshuayi leveled in the 38th with his 11th league goal of the season.
Barrada was shown a straight red in the 50th for a heavy tackle on forward John Tshibumbu.
''Anyone who's played football knows that he went for the ball,'' Marseille's Spanish coach Michel said. ''I think it's obvious.''
Perhaps of greater concern is the fact that Marseille has won only two of its 10 home games in the league, drawing five and losing three.
''There's nothing much to say, we're still unable to maintain our good away form when we play at home,'' Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda said. ''I can't understand why.''
