Paris Saint-Germain Lash Lyon 2-0, Take Sole Possession of First Place

Those preseason expectations handed out by new owners Qatari Investment Authority now look rather modest in light of Paris Saint Germain's recent run of form, which has seen the capital side seize sole possession of first place in Ligue 1.

The ownership group, which took over the controlling interest in the French capital's top club this past May, had initially set out a top-three finish and Champions League qualification in 2012-13 as the minimum.

After nine league matches, however, Paris Saint-Germain have more than surpassed those quelling would-be doubters with Sunday's 2-0 victory over Olympique Lyonnais, who had entered the match tied with PSG for first.

This is a Paris side steeped in individual talent. And while forming a cohesive unit that plays an attractive blend of football will take time—it took Manchester City three seasons to win a trophy (2011 FA Cup) after their own exorbitant spending spree began in 2008 after undergoing new ownership—if Sunday was any indication, PSG has the potential to win Ligue 1 now.

After a summer in which a glut of talent was brought into the Parc des Princes confines, the diamond of that group, Javier Pastore, once again showed a veritable bang for his buck against Les Gones. Forty-two-million euro has begun to look more and more a fair assessment of the former Palermo star, who was the Serie A Player of the Year in 2010-11.

The 22-year-old has made a habit this season of delivering his most immense contributions at the most opportune times. Pastore has yet to hit the considerable highs he is capable of, and that is quite scary for the rest of the league, who would point to his impressive haul of five goals and two assists in protest of that evaluation.

On Sunday, all it took was one delicious turn of pace and trickery by the Argentine attacking midfielder, who gave Lyon defender Bakary Kone the slip just inside the left fringes of the penalty area with a deft feint before smashing a left-footed drive past Hugo Lloris's near post to break the 0-0 deadlock.

The ensuing celebration said it all. Pastore made a break past the sponsorship boards lining the pitch and launched himself into the confines of the host supporters, who showered their new hero with thunderous applause and riotous cheer. Goose-bump inducing, this was.

It was a stroke of genius, no matter Lloris, the French international No. 1's questionable positioning in goal.

In a game that they had largely bossed, Paris showed the kind of determination and rigor required of champions in dispatching a plucky Lyon side, who had a couple gilt-edged chances of their own during the match.

Bafetimi Gomis, whose superb form has earned him a call up to the French national side for this week's European qualification showdowns against Albania and Bosnia and Herzigovina, missed at least three point-blank opportunities in front of goal.

It was shocking waste by the man with six goals to his name so far in 2011-12 league play, but it summed up the match perfectly.

Paris showed the mark of champions. Lyon, as they have done so frequently in recent seasons, looked second-rate.