Cavani, Mbappe score as PSG bounce back from League Cup exit

Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe scored as Paris Saint- Germain responded to their shock midweek League Cup defeat by claiming a 3 -0 win at Amiens on Saturday to move 13 points clear at the Ligue 1 summit .PSG had seen their bid for a sixth straight League Cup title ended in midweek by struggling Guingamp at the Parc des Princes , but were too strong for a dogged Amiens .

The reigning French champions remain unbeaten after 18 games of the league season , and sit 13 points ahead of second -placed Lille, with two games in hand .

“ What can we win in a game against Guingamp ? Nothing , we had everything to lose , ” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel .

“If we had won 1 -0 , everyone would have said, ‘ It ’ s only 1 -0 against Guingamp at the Parc des Princes ’ , no one would say bravo .

“Our challenge is to do things by being very focused . It ’ s hard to play , even today , with the mentality to start again . ”

Tuchel rested Neymar for the trip to the Stade de la Licorne , and his side struggled to create any chances of note in a drab first half.

PSG were gifted an opportunity to take the lead in the 57 th minute when Angel Di Maria ’ s powerful shot struck the arm of a sliding Alexis Blin from barely a yard away, with the capital club awarded a penalty just three days after conceding three against Guingamp .

Cavani stepped up to slot the ball into the middle of the net and score his 14 th goal of the season in all competitions .

An uphill battle became a mountainous one for the home team when Mbappe was hauled down by Khaled Adenon , and after the World Cup winner gestured to the referee to send off the Amiens wing – back, the official obliged by showing the 33 -year -old a second yellow card .

It did not take long for Mbappe to take full advantage of Adenon ’ s dismissal himself , as Cavani found space on the right and crossed low for the forward to tap in his 18 th goal this term .

Amiens ’ hopes of getting something from the game had long vanished when PSG centre -back Marquinhos ventured forward to divert home Julian Draxler’ s cutback to make it three with 11 minutes to play .

On Friday, Lille had consolidated second spot with a 3 -1 win at Caen , while third -placed Lyon were held at home by Reims .

Former Arsenal and Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas could make his debut for Thierry Henry ’ s struggling Monaco at Marseille on Sunday after joining on a three -and -a -half year deal from Chelsea .

( AFP )

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