Winners and Losers as Invincible PSG and Ibrahimovic Edge Nantes in Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain remain the only European team unbeaten in all competitions after a narrow 2-1 win over FC Nantes at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. The result moves Laurent Blanc’s men provisionally top of Ligue 1 by two points, but it could so easily have been worse for the French champions.

Alejandro Bedoya put Nantes 1-0 up after just eight minutes with a stunning strike that will be a contender for goal of the season in Le Championnat. However, after seeing a second through Papy Djilobodji disallowed shortly afterwards, Michel Der Zakarian’s men then had to watch as PSG and Zlatan Ibrahimovic came from behind to win the game.

It was not pretty all the time, but PSG eventually had too much for Les Canaris and clipped their wings. The hosts are warming up well for their trip to Barcelona next week and celebrate their 1000th victory in official competitions, per PSG.fr.

Blanc admitted to PSG.fr after the final whistle that the match was harder than the hosts expected.

"

We composed our starting line-up with one eye on the Barcelona game. Certain players needed some playing time and they got that this evening. On this level, everything went well. But we weren't counting on it being quite so hard to beat this Nantes side that were very aggressive in the opening 20 minutes and caused us a lot of problems. We're happy to have won, but we will need to improve to get a win against Barcelona. This evening was also the 1000^th victory for the club which is great, as is the fact that we are still undefeated.

"

Here are some winners and losers from PSG's 2-1 win.

Winner: Alejandro Bedoya, Who Scored a Stunner for His First Goal of the Season

Claude Paris/Associated Press

It had not been the best of seasons for Nantes’ Bedoya coming into the PSG clash, but handed his first Ligue 1 start since early October, the American international seized the moment.

Picking up the ball outside the hosts’ penalty area after just eight minutes, the 27-year-old fired an unstoppable effort into Salvatore Sirigu’s top right corner.

"

Alejandro Bedoya strike vs PSG #USMNT https://t.co/F9YFGpTw3P

— Backheel (@Backheeldotcom) December 6, 2014"

It is the Nantes man’s first goal of the season and will give him renewed confidence after a difficult period.

Not only that, it will also put him in contention for more starts in a team that only has one player with more than two goals so far this campaign.

Winner: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Who Overcame Heel Troubles to Score Twice

Remy de la Mauviniere/Associated Press

While it was a superb Lucas Moura cross to supply the super Swede with his first goal, Ibrahimovic showed the clinical edge PSG were missing in Lille by taking their first real clear chance of the match.

It was no easy finish either; Les Parisiens’ talisman beat Oswaldo Vizcarrondo before stretching to poke home the tantalising low ball from his Brazilian teammate.

"

Goal Zlatan! 1-1 https://t.co/UgDzeYuqio

— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) December 6, 2014"

Zlatan needed no assistance for his second of the game, though.

Lining up a free-kick on the edge of the box early in the second half, the PSG No. 10 let rip with a stinging effort that gave Nantes goalkeeper Remy Riou no chance.

"

Ibrahimovic 2-1 https://t.co/rzxnbPKvfc

— Football Vines (@Football_MVine) December 6, 2014"

Hit from a similar area to Bedoya’s, the Swede was not going to be outshone on his own turf.

"

3 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored three goals with his last three shots attempted in Ligue 1. Sniper.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 6, 2014"

Loser: Michel Der Zakarian, Who Saw His Side Have an Early Second Goal Disallowed

Remy de la Mauviniere/Associated Press

If Nantes were in dreamland with Bedoya’s stunning opening goal, then coach Der Zakarian must have thought he was hallucinating when the ball hit the back of the PSG net for a second time shortly after the first.

Stemming from a free-kick conceded by Marco Verratti, who could easily have been sent off for the tackle, Les Canaris scored but had the effort chalked off for a foul on Thiago Silva.

A debatable decision, Nantes and Der Zakarian were ultimately left to rue the referee’s choice on the matter.

Loser: Marco Verratti, Who Was Lucky to Not Be Sent off

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Verratti was lucky to still be on the pitch after a wild tackle that gave Nantes the chance that led to their disallowed second goal, only receiving a yellow card.

So when he nearly butted heads with Nantes goalkeeper Riou, it was only a matter of time before Blanc took him off.

"

verratti versione karateka #psg #nantes 0-1 pic.twitter.com/S1IKSW3lBm

— Alessandro Grandesso (@agrandesso) December 6, 2014"

That eventually did happen and it brought a poor afternoon to an end for the Italian international.

After missing the last few weeks of action through injury, the pint-sized midfielder was certainly short of full match fitness.

However, Verratti played for 65 minutes and likely proved his fitness to Blanc ahead of the decisive UEFA Champions League Group F visit to Barcelona.