Paris Saint-Germain have extended their unbeaten start to the 2015-16 Ligue 1 season with a 3-0 win over Nice, who played more than half of the match a man short at Allianz Riviera.
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The home side made a bright start to the match, with Valere Germain attempting to set up Hatem Ben Arfa for an early goal, but the winger's long-range finish was wide of the target.
PSG started to dominate possession, but there were more chances for Nice midway through the first half as Ben Arfa picked out Jean Seri with a long ball forward, but his effort was saved, while a shot from Ben Arfa himself went wide.
The visitors took the lead 10 minutes before half time as Zlatan Ibrahimovic flicked a long ball into the box into the path as Edinson Cavani to give the striker an easy finish from close range.
The reigning French champions doubled their advantage before the interval though as Ibrahimovic burst forward again, drawing a last-man foul in the penalty area from Niklas Hult, which earned the defender a red card and allowed the Swedish international to slot the ball in from the spot.
With a man advantage, PSG were on the attack again at the start of the second half, but Benjamin Stambouli missed the target, before Ibrahimovic saw his header saved while attempting to nod in from a Blaise Matuidi cross.
Angel di Maria came close to adding a third for the visitors a couple of minutes later as Cavani nodded a high ball on for the Argentine, but his powerful strike was blocked.
PSG's dominance eventually did result in another goal though as Di Maria charged forward again, providing a through-ball to set up Ibrahimovic for a sliced finish from a tight angle.
The visitors continued to see the majority of the ball, but Nice played the offside trap well, catching Ben Arfa and Adrien Rabiot out as they both attempted to make a run into the box.
PSG were still on the ball as the match headed into the final 10 minutes, but with the 10 men of Nice tiring, the visitors were content to keep possession and run down the remaining seconds.
The result leaves PSG 16 points clear at the top of the table, while Nice sit fifth.
Sian Cowper
