Paris Saint-Germain overcame the early loss to injury of Zlatan Ibrahimovic as they eased to a 2-0 victory against Bastia yesterday.
The Swede appeared to strain a muscle in his side in innocuous fashion early on and lasted 15 minutes before making way for Ezequiel Lavezzi.
In his absence, Lucas opened the scoring in the 26th minute and Edinson Cavani doubled their advantage just before the hour mark to score his first of the campaign and give PSG their first victory in Ligue 1 after last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Reims.
Bastia had never beaten PSG away from home in the top flight, but they were optimistic of springing a surprise thanks to the influence of their new coach Claude Makelele, the former PSG captain who gave up his role as assistant coach to take over in Corsica this summer.
Makelele’s men had recovered from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at home to Marseille last weekend, but they rarely looked like doing anything similar on this occasion as PSG’s expensive summer signing David Luiz was afforded a gentle stroll in the late afternoon sunshine for his Ligue 1 debut.
The Brazilian signed from Chelsea for a reported €50 million (Dh246m) might not have started this match had his compatriot and captain Thiago Silva not been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Blanc also took Gregory Van der Wiel off at half-time, the Dutch right-back reportedly struggling with a calf knock. He made way for Serge Aurier, who came on for his home debut after signing on loan from Toulouse.
Before that, Van der Wiel had been the creator of the game’s opening goal, his cross from the right being met first-time on the volley by the unmarked Lucas at the back post.
The reigning champions then struck again in the 57th minute when Uruguay star Cavani controlled a quickly taken Marco Verratti free kick inside the area before volleying home.
PSG were left fuming after midfielder Thiago Motta was left with a fractured nose following a bust-up in the tunnel at the end of the clash.
Images from surveillance cameras in the tunnel at the Parc des Princes, obtained by several local media outlets, appeared to show Bastia’s Brazilian forward Brandao waiting for Motta to approach him before headbutting the Brazil-born Italy international.
A mass altercation then ensued, and PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi told beIN Sports that Motta’s nose had been fractured in the incident.
Al Khelaifi also called for serious action to be taken against Brandao, the 34-year-old former Marseille player.
“I hope that the Bastia player who did that is very severely punished. A heavy punishment is required,” he said.
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