(MENAFN- Arab Times) Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain eased to a 2-0 win against Corsican minnows Gazelec Ajaccio to maintain their perfect start to the Ligue 1 season after Marseille slumped to another defeat. A stunning Blaise Matuidi strike and a Thiago Silva header, both in the first half, put PSG out of sight against newly-promoted Gazelec at the Parc des Princes and left Laurent Blanc's side with six points from a possible six at the start of the new campaign.
"It was a good evening. The match could have been a bit more spectacular if we had taken a couple more chances but their 'keeper made several very good saves," acknowledged Blanc. Argentina winger Angel di Maria, the 63 million-euro (£44.3m; $68.9m) signing from Manchester United, was introduced to the Paris fans before kick-off, although he was not yet fit enough to make his debut. And with Zlatan Ibrahimovic again sidelined, PSG were not at full strength, as 18-year-old forward Jean-Kevin Augustin was handed a first start in the top flight.
But this was always likely to be a trying night for Gazelec, a club whose overall budget for their debut season at the top level barely equates to Ibrahimovic's annual salary at the Parc des Princes. It always seemed a question of when, not if, Paris would open the scoring and they duly did so in the 11th minute thanks to Matuidi, the France midfielder taking the ball into the box and then sending a fizzing left-foot drive high into the net at the near post. PSG added their second goal midway through the first half, captain Silva putting the disappointment of being dropped from the Brazil squad last week behind him as he headed home a Thiago Motta corner.
Standings
P W D L GF GA Pts
Paris SG 2 2 0 0 3 0 6
Reims 2 2 0 0 3 1 6
Caen 2 2 0 0 2 0 6
Angers 2 1 1 0 2 0 4
Bastia 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
Monaco 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Lyon 2 1 1 0 1 0 4
Nantes 2 1 1 0 1 0 4
Rennes 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Toulouse 2 1 0 1 2 2 3
Troyes 2 0 2 0 3 3 2
Lorient 2 0 2 0 1 1 2
Nice 2 0 1 1 4 5 1
Etienne 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
Bordeaux 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
Lille 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
Ajaccio 2 0 1 1 0 2 1
Guingamp 2 0 0 2 0 2 0
Marseille 2 0 0 2 0 2 0
Montpellier 2 0 0 2 0 3 0
Note: Standings read as played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points.
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