Javier Pastore Finally Proving Quality as Metz Win Returns PSG to Ligue 1 Summit

Paris Saint-Germain are back on top of Ligue 1 after a 3-1 win over FC Metz on Tuesday night. It was the capital club’s game in hand over title rivals Olympique Lyonnais, and they now hold a three-point lead heading into the final month of the French season.

Les Parisiens did the damage with goals from Marco Verratti, Edinson Cavani and Gregory van der Wiel, but it was midfielder Javier Pastore—once again—who masterminded the victory.

Modibo Maiga had halved the deficit for Metz early in the second half with a brilliant header, but it was not enough for Albert Cartier’s men.

PSG boss Laurent Blanc was delighted that his players did not miss their chance to open up a three-point lead and also expressed his pleasure at the quality of the game when speaking with PSG's official website after the final whistle:

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It was a nice match of football, very open, with some beautiful goals. I think the supporters had a good night. I'm happy, even if the most important thing was to win, I congratulate both sets of players for the entertainment. For our part, the mission was accomplished with the three points. Now we have to prepare for a very difficult match on Sunday against Nantes.

"

PSG made a lightning-fast start to their 6-1 demolition of Lille OSC last Saturday—scoring inside 24 seconds—but they were not as fast off the block at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. It took just over 24 minutes this time for the hosts to open the scoring.

The Metz defence gave Pastore far too much room, and the Argentina international was able to play Verratti in behind the visitors’ back line. The pint-sized Italian is not renowned for his finishing skills in front of goal, but the 22-year-old scored with a clinical hit for his third strike across all competitions so far this season.

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Pastore was only just warming up, though.

Three minutes before half-time, El Flaco collected a pass from the advancing Cavani and cleverly played it back into the path of the onrushing Uruguayan. El Matador continued his run before scoring past Anthony Mfa Mezui with a stylish finish.

The South American pair had combined beautifully for Cavani’s first goal in the thrashing of Lille over the weekend and their chemistry continued to grow with this latest goal, adding weight to the feeling that PSG could finally be ready to emerge from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s shadow on a more regular basis.

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Metz managed to pull themselves back into contention eight minutes into the second half, with Bouna Sarr getting the better of David Luiz before putting an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Maiga—with Thiago Silva nowhere near the ball—to make it 2-1.

From that moment on, PSG were not as comfortable or as authoritative, and a Metz equaliser did appear to be a possibility.

That second goal for Cartier’s side did not materialise, though. Instead, it was Pastore who would put the result beyond all doubt.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

The Argentinian playmaker released Van der Wiel—who at this point was playing more as a winger than a full-back—on the right, and the flying Dutchman managed to squeeze his shot under Mfa Mezui and just over the line.

It was another complete performance from Pastore, who has now contributed to PSG's last four goals in Ligue 1. There is also an argument forming that Laurent Blanc’s men may already have found their next talisman for when Ibrahimovic eventually departs the French capital.

The big test for Blanc now is how he accommodates the in-form Pastore with a reinvigorated Cavani and the returning Ibrahimovic, with a confident Ezequiel Lavezzi to also consider.

It is a nice headache for a coach to have, especially during a title race, but there is a sizeable danger that changing the chemistry could jeopardize this current good form.

Ibrahimovic will walk back into the starting XI, and it would be a major surprise to not see him starting away at FC Nantes this coming Sunday. However, the combination of Pastore, Cavani, Lavezzi and/or Lucas Moura have done enough against OGC Nice, Lille and Metz to warrant being kept together for the trip to the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Jacques Brinon/Associated Press

In theory, a front three of Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Pastore could work, but the reality is that the Swede drops so deep that it is impossible for the Argentinian to thrive in the No. 10 position that he really calls his own.

PSG's No. 27 can be deployed as part of the midfield three and still influence games, but he is less effective there than he is when playing behind a front pair.

Blanc needs to be wary of the risks he is running if he opts to change what—at this moment—is a prolific winning formula with just four matches to go until the end of the season.

A sudden loss of form could feasibly cost Les Parisiens the title, with Lyon still leading PSG on goal difference if they can make up the current three-point gap.