Paris: A thunderous second-half strike from Edinson Cavani gave Paris Saint Germain a 1-0 win over Lille on Friday as the French champions were made to fight all night.
The result sees Unai Emery’s PSG climb to second on 23 points behind Ligue 1 leaders Nice who have 26 ahead of hosting Nantes on Sunday. Third placed Monaco, on 22 points, were scheduled to take on St Etienne on Saturday.
It was a real moment of magic from 29-year-old Cavani as the Uruguayan controlled Angel Di Maria’s pass with his chest, swivelled and unleashed an unstoppable shot for his 10th league goal of the campaign on 64 minutes.
The first half was marked by a duel between di Maria and Lille’s Nigerian international goalkeeper Victor Enyeama, who saved twice from close range.
The Argentine also had a 22nd-minute ‘goal’ ruled out for hand ball.
Struggling in Ligue 1, Frederic Antonetti’s Lille were no pushovers and were organised from start to finish.
They may easily have scored on three occasions, none more so than when Younousse Sankhare missed from point blank range on 82 minutes when the ball came to him from an Eder cross right on the goalline.
PSG captain Thiago Silva was forced into a panicked overhead clearance from his own six yard box shortly afterwards.
In Spanish La Liga, Real Sociedad put an end to a three-match winless streak with a 2-0 victory against Leganes, who have yet to win at home in the current season.
Dominating possession, the visitors on Friday opened the scoring in the 29th minute, when William Jose scored with a perfect header off a cross from Carlos Martinez.
Still in control, Real Sociedad slowed the pace in the second half, effectively lulling the hosts into complacency before striking again in the 58th minute, with Xabi Prieto calmly putting away the rebound after Leganes goalkeeper Serantes stopped Zurutuza’s shot from the edge of the area.
Carlos Vela nearly made it 3-0 for the visitors, but Serantes was able to deflect his header over the crossbar.
A pair of late substitutions added some intensity for Leganes, but it was not sufficient to avert a third consecutive loss.
