PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain is guaranteed to end 2015 on top of the Ligue 1 table after a 4-1 win against Troyes on a day marked by tributes to the victims of the recent terror attacks.
It was a routine win for PSG with Edinson Cavani and Layvin Kurzawa finding the net either side of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty before youngster Jean-Kevin Augustin wrapped up the points.
Thomas Ayasse got one back for the away side but the win for Paris means it is still unbeaten domestically this season and is so far clear of its rivals that it has already secured the symbolic title of autumn champion for the team that tops the table at Christmas.
The match was also significant for being the first top-level game to be played in the French capital since the terror attacks in the city and outside the Stade de France during France’s game with Germany on Nov. 13 that left 130 dead and many more injured.
With France still in a state of emergency, there were stringent security checks on the way into the Parc des Princes, and there was also a moving tribute before the game kicked off. The likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and other sporting superstars appeared on a video played on big screens with each repeating the slogan ‘Je Suis Paris’ (I am Paris) that PSG also sported on their shirts.
A huge French flag greeted the players as they came out while ‘La Marseillaise’ was sung and a minute’s silence held, just as had been the case across France and elsewhere in Europe last weekend.
France’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls and the Emir of Qatar were among the crowd for the game as the club owned by the Gulf state further demonstrated its dominance over the rest of Ligue 1.
Tiago suffers broken leg
Atletico Madrid has been dealt a huge blow as the club confirmed influential Portuguese midfielder Tiago suffered a broken leg in his side’s 1-0 win over Espanyol Saturday.
The former Chelsea man was stretchered off in severe pain after an innocuous looking clash with Marco Asensio just after the half hour mark.
Earlier, Neymar netted twice while Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi also scored as Barcelona earned another lopsided win by beating Real Sociedad 4-0 to protect its lead of the Spanish league. Second-place Atletico Madrid remained four points behind Barcelona.
Fourth-place Celta Vigo climbed level on points with Real Madrid in third after beating Sporting Gijon 2-1
and Deportivo La Coruna rose to sit fifth overnight with a 2-0 win at Las Palmas. — Agencies
