Paris Saint-Germain have picked up their 14th consecutive victory in all competitions courtesy of a 2-0 win over Saint-Etienne at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard this evening.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored both goals for the French champions to send them 24 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 having dropped only six points from a possible 69 all season.
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The visitors almost found themselves behind inside three minutes, however, as a breakdown in communications between Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta allowed Kevin Monnet-Paquet to race through on goal, but Kevin Trapp was there to thwart the forward.
Ibrahimovic had his first sight of goal shortly afterwards when he fired an effort over the crossbar, but Trapp was the busier of the two keepers in a lively opening and was once again called into action to deny Kevin Malcuit and Franck Tabanou in quick succession.
Jean Christophe Bahebeck, playing against his parent club, was the next to threaten for the hosts when he fired narrowly over, before being denied another clear opportunity by Matuidi's last-gasp challenge.
Having struggled to create much themselves, the runaway league leaders almost nipped in front when Lucas Moura latched on to Ibrahimovic's back-heel, but Moustapha Bayal Sall was there to make an important block.
Bayal Sall had a chance of his own at the other end right on the stroke of half time when Tabanou's free kick went all the way through to the back post, but the defender couldn't get enough on his effort to steer it goalwards.
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Saint-Etienne continued to look the more likely at the start of the second half too, with Tabanou and Monnet-Paquet coming close, but their profligacy would soon come back to haunt them when PSG took the lead.
Ibrahimovic got his first of the evening shortly after the hour mark, stealing in between the two centre-backs to latch on to Serge Aurier's cross and slam the ball home.
That goal appeared to take the wind out of the hosts' sails, with only an Alexander Soderlund header coming close before the final minute of normal time, when Trapp kept out Jeremy Clement's half-volley to keep his side in the lead.
The late goal would go the way of the visitors, however, as Angel di Maria's poor initial shot was dragged into the path of Ibrahimovic, who doubled his personal tally to make it seven straight Ligue 1 wins for the capital outfit.
The defeat leaves Saint-Etienne still eighth in the table, while PSG are now unbeaten in their last 32 league matches.
Barney Corkhill
