Neymar's brace helps PSG equal 80-year-old Ligue 1 record

Pairs Saint-Germain maintained ir unbeaten start to season after y cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Nice on Saturday. In process, league leaders have equaled a record that has stood in French football for almost 80 years.

defending French champions have w added to ir perfect start with 8 consecutive wins to Ligue 1 season, a feat that had only been achieved once, by Olympique Lillois way back in 1936. 

However, PSG have lost once this season, but in Champions League against Liverpool. And, w with Red Star Belgrade visiting Parc des Princes on Wednesday, coach Thomas Tuchel left Marco Verratti and Edinson Cavani on bench and also experimented again with a back three. 

But ir absence didn't seem to bor French giants as y dominated from start. Neymar, struck a brace on eir side of half, with Christopher Nkunku also target, which meant Thomas Tuchel's men secured ar three points this season. 

With 24 points, PSG, chasing a sixth French title in seven seasons, are sure to end weekend at least eight points clear of ir closest challengers.

Though, scoreline would have been more emphatic if it wasn't for Nice goalkeeper Walter Benitez, who turned away early efforts from Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappe. Nice goalkeeper was called up to action right from start, was made to face wrath of relelentless PSG attackers.

PSG's persistent efforts finally paid dividends in  22nd minute after Neymar gave hosts lead. Christopher Nkunku surged down right and slid ball to Mbappe, who completely missed his shot. ball was retrieved by Moussa Diaby who rolled it to Neymar and Brazilian curled his shot into net from 22 metres. 

PSG wasted several chances before half-time and in 44th minute Mbappe set up Neymar, who netted from close range only for VAR to show a marginal offside.

Nice coach Patrick Vieira threw on Mario Balotelli for second half, but any hopes of a fightback were quickly punctured. A minute after restart, Di Maria released Mbappe who raced through visiting defence and evaded Benitez and one defender. When his shot struck ar Nice player, ball fell to Nkunku who popped it into goal.

Nice finished game with 10 men. Wylan Cyprien, a first-half substitute, earned a second yellow for whacking Neymar in face with an elbow while leaping for a header. Cyprien went off, Neymar continued, holding a band to his bleeding mouth.

In dying seconds, Mbappe again burst clear and squared ball to Neymar who tapped in his second. With his brace, Neymar is in fine goal-scoring form and also leads charts for highest-goal scorer with 7 goals scored.

Next up, PSG will face pace-setters Lyon against whom y will hope to continue ir winning start, and thus set a new league record for 9 wins in as many games played in French league.

(With AFP inputs)