Paris Saint-Germain have remained on course to secure the Ligue 1 title courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 win over Nantes this evening.
The visitors opened the scoring in just the second minute of the game as Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not closed down on the edge of the area and allowed to get a shot away.
His strike was deflected into the path of Gregory van der Wiel and Edinson Cavani, who connected at the same time to guide the ball past Remy Riou, although the Uruguayan claimed the goal.
Cavani had the chance to double his tally for the evening when he latched on to a through-ball down the right, ignoring the supporting run of Ibrahimovic only to see his strike well saved by Riou.
Laurent Blanc's men were well and truly on top and Blaise Matuidi did well to slide a pass into the inside left channel for Cavani to race on to, but the striker was yet again denied by a solid stop from Riou.
The home side tried to hit back with an opportunity of their own and a scramble in the PSG box almost presented a chance to Johan Audel as he tried a first-time volley, but his effort went narrowly over the bar.
The visitors doubled their lead when Ibrahimovic released the run of Matuidi through the middle of the Nantes defence and the midfielder maintained his composure to fire the ball past Riou.
Nicolas Douchez was called upon to deny Alejandro Bedoya as the forward guided a header towards the top corner, with the keeper diving to his right to palm the ball away.
Just before the break, the Nantes defence parted to allow Ibrahimovic to blast an effort at goal, but the keeper held firm to deny the Swede and keep his side in the match.
In the second half, Javier Pastore came close to adding to his side's goal tally when Ibrahimovic played him in down the right, but Lucas Deaux came across to make a vital block and divert the midfielder's shot away from goal.
Papy Djilobodji made a similarly important interception to keep his side in the match as Pastore raided down the left and tried to pick out Ibrahimovic in the box, but the defender was alert to the danger and managed to prevent the cross from finding its target.
Nantes tried to push to get a goal back late in the game, but the visitors were resolute at the back and held out for three points with relative ease.
The reigning champions now sit three points clear at the top of the table, while Nantes remain 11th.
Simon Sinclair
