Ezequiel Lavezzi Wipes Away Champions League Defeat with PSG Treble vs. Lille

Paris Saint-Germain are back on top of Ligue 1, until Sunday evening at least, after a 6-1 mauling of Lille OSC at Parc des Princes on Saturday.

Olympique Lyonnais can retake first place on goal difference if they can win away at Stade de Reims, but Les Parisiens still have a game in hand against FC Metz to come next Tuesday. If they put in a similar performance against Les Grenats, they will have established a three-point lead over Hubert Fournier’s men—as well as wiping out OL’s favourable goal difference.

Ezequiel Lavezzi was PSG’s main man; scoring his first-ever treble in league football, while team-mate Edinson Cavani added two more—including one sensational lobbed effort—after Maxwell had started things off inside of the first minute.

It was the best performance of the season so far from Laurent Blanc’s men in Le Championnat, but they were helped by some wretched Lille defending on the day.

Prior to the match, it looked as if it could have been a close encounter. Rene Girard’s side had won six of their seven games coming into the game and PSG were licking their wounds after exiting the UEFA Champions League in Barcelona just days before.

However, despite a good first-half Sofiane Boufal performance, Lille were unable to trouble their hosts and the defending French champions put Les Dogues to the sword without hanging around. Blanc told PSG.fr of his delight at the authority his players showed. 

"

It was very important to show tonight that we had overcome the Champions League elimination. We did that. It's the sprint finish now, and we need to win as many matches as possible, especially at home. We were very wary of this Lille side, but scoring two goals inside the opening five minutes did us the world of good. Congratulations to my players for their match.

"

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Just 24 seconds into the match, PSG were in front. Cavani let Serge Aurier’s cross from the right run, but Maxwell was following up to sweep the ball past Vincent Enyeama. The Nigerian goalkeeper could perhaps have done better, but no Lille player had even touched the ball by that point.

Just three minutes later, it was two. Javier Pastore—who was in sensational form all game—played in Cavani superbly and the Uruguayan lobbed Enyeama in style.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

El Matador has had his fair share of critics recently after a number of below-par performances, but the South American responded to them by turning provider for PSG’s third of the afternoon. With 29 minutes on the clock, Thiago Motta’s superb pass cut the Lille defence open and Cavani unselfishly squared for Lavezzi to fire home high into the net instead of going for goal himself.

Les Parisiens were then hit by a double injury blow. Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu was forced off with an ankle injury after 32 minutes and replaced by Nicolas Douchez, before the impressive Aurier was forced to make way after clashing with Djibril Sidibe.

Despite those two changes, PSG were 4-0 up by half-time. One minute before the break, Blaise Matuidi powered his way past Florent Balmont and played the ball back to Lavezzi, who tapped in on the volley.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

The opening 45 minutes witnessed some of the worst football Lille have played all season, but the hosts had also displayed a rarely seen ruthless streak. Things would not get much better for LOSC in the second half, despite pulling a goal back just before the hour mark.

Gregory van der Wiel—on in place of the injured Aurier—conceded an unnecessary corner, and from that, Marko Basa was able to catch out PSG’s substitute goalkeeper Douchez with a looping header.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

It was not until 17 minutes from time that Blanc’s men were able to re-establish their four-goal lead, with another excellent Pastore pass setting Lavezzi free. El Pocho was brought down by Sebastien Corchia and—despite being booked at the end of the first half—the Frenchman was given a straight red card.

Cavani bagged his second of the day from the penalty spot, giving Enyeama no chance, and joined Lavezzi on two in the hunt for a hat-trick.

It was the Argentina international who eventually secured the match ball though, finishing brilliantly past Enyeama with a low effort after holding off Benjamin Pavard and Simon Kjaer for his third of the afternoon.

Francois Mori/Associated Press

For PSG, it was just the tonic they needed after their Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona, and the result also sends a message to title rivals Lyon. However, for Lille, it was their worst Ligue 1 defeat since April 1985, when they lost by the same score away at AS Monaco.

Les Dogues had not conceded four times in the first half of a game for 22 years, and their wait for a win at Parc des Princes goes on. They have not recorded a league win away at PSG since 1996, but this heavy defeat may well have ended their faint hopes of European qualification.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Blanc’s men recorded their biggest win since a 6-1 victory over FC Sochaux-Montbeliard back in 2012 and have now disposed of their most difficult remaining fixture remaining in Le Championnat. If Les Parisiens can beat Metz next week, they will open up at least a three-point gap over Lyon at the Ligue 1 summit.