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

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

The defending French champions have now added to their perfect start with 8 consecutive wins to the 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 the Champions League against Liverpool. And, now with Red Star Belgrade visiting Parc des Princes on Wednesday, coach Thomas Tuchel left Marco Verratti and Edinson Cavani on the bench and also experimented again with a back three. 

But their absence didn't seem to bother the French giants as they dominated from the start. Neymar, struck a brace on the either side of the half, with Christopher Nkunku also target, which meant Thomas Tuchel's men secured another three points this season. 

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

Though, the 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. The Nice goalkeeper was called up to action right from the start, was made to face the wrath of the relelentless PSG attackers.

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

PSG wasted several chances before half-time and in the 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 the second half, but any hopes of a fightback were quickly punctured. A minute after the restart, Di Maria released Mbappe who raced through the visiting defence and evaded Benitez and one defender. When his shot struck another Nice player, the ball fell to Nkunku who popped it into the goal.

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

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

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

(With AFP inputs)