Paris: Kylian Mbappe and Neymar watched from the stands as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) prepared for their Champions League trip to Liverpool with an emphatic 4-0 win over Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 Saturday here.
Julian Draxler, Edinson Cavani, Angel di Maria and youngster Moussa Diaby all found the net at the Parc des Princes to allow PSG to make it five wins from five games at the start of their defence of the French title.
Mbappe was absent because of the three-match ban he was handed following his red card in the previous game while Neymar was rested after playing for Brazil in a friendly in the United States in midweek.
Marco Verratti’s ball over the top found Draxler in the box, with the German midfielder controlling the ball with his head and then nodding it over Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier to give the defending champions the lead in the 22nd minute.
PSG’s second goal arrived just six minute after half-time, with Cavani converting a penalty, his third goal in as many games this season, after he had been chopped down in the box by Loic Perrin.
PSG added the third after the 19-year-old Diaby who came in as a substitute in place of Lassana Diarra, helped set up Di Maria to lash a shot into the roof of the net in the 76th minute.
Diaby rounded off the scoring after Cavani’s swipe at a Draxler cutback had turned into an assist for the teenager six minutes from time.