Javier Pastore Reminds Us of His Class in PSG's French League Cup Win over Lille

Paris Saint-Germain won their sixth Coupe de la Ligue title with a 2-1 victory over Lille OSC at Stade de France on Saturday.

It was also a third consecutive triumph in the competition for Laurent Blanc’s men, who are the all-time record-holders by some way (Bordeaux, Marseille and Strasbourg are joint-second, having won three each).

Argentina international pair Javier Pastore and Angel Di Maria got the goals for Les Parisiens in the capital, while Djibril Sidibe scored Les Dogues’ fine consolation effort. However, the manner of the French champions’ victory was fortuitous, and LOSC arguably deserved to at least go to extra time.

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PSG’s largely underwhelming performance does not mean nobody caught the eye, though. Pastore, making his first starting appearance since the 9-0 win away at ESTAC Troyes back in early March, put in an encouraging 79-minute showing.

The 26-year-old took his volleyed opening goal well—even if Layvin Kurzawa was in an offside position and arguably interfering with Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama—and the South American also gave Blanc’s men a noticeable creative boost.

After weeks without the man from Cordoba, Argentina, and Marco Verratti, the difference playing one of them from the start at the expense of the cumbersome—and injured—Thiago Motta was clear for all to see.

Speaking with PSG’s official website after the final whistle, Pastore was delighted to have played such a key role in the team’s latest piece of silverware.

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It was great to score and also to win this final. We wanted to qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, but we didn’t get there this season. This final came ten days after that elimination and we wanted to win. No matter the competition, the motivation is always the same.

Today we showed our ability to stand up to the challenge, especially with just 10 men. It’s good for the club and the players. The Coupe de France final against Marseille? It will be another very tough game. We have a month to prepare for that game. We want the same outcome as today.

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After his performance and goal at Stade de France on Saturday, perhaps Pastore can finally start to put what has been a nightmarish season of injuries and fitness problems behind him and finish the campaign with a bit of momentum ahead of this summer’s Copa America.

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The Albiceleste star has shown in recent weeks he is ready to banish the memories of his physical frustrations after appearances against Manchester City in the Champions League, FC Lorient in the Coupe de France and now Lille in the Coupe de la Ligue.

What Blanc must do now is integrate the No. 27 back in into the starting XI as quickly as he can, particularly if the returning Verratti is unable to feature in every match between now and the end of the season with the 2016 UEFA European Championship just around the corner.

With this summer’s Copa America Centenario looming for Pastore, the former Palermo man needs to get match fit. PSG also have the Coupe de France final against bitter rivals Marseille to come at Stade de France, and the cultured playmaker could be important—if fit.

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Pastore was not at his scintillating best against Lille, but of all the players on the pitch in the capital on Saturday, he was the least likely to be on top of his game because of his lack of match fitness.

The fact he was able to stand head and shoulders above his team-mates and that the encounter was still won in 90 minutes speaks volumes about how disappointing PSG’s showing actually was.