Paris Saint Germain 3 - 0 Metz: Paris St Germain break down Metz to continue winning start

Posted Monday, August 22, 2016 by PA

Paris St Germain made it two wins from two as they continued a successful start to their title defence by beating newly-promoted Metz 3-0.

Despite being frustrated during a scoreless first half, goals from Lucas Moura and Layvin Kurzawa after the break ensured PSG kept up the pace with early front-runners Lyon and Nice at the top of Ligue 1.

A Jonathan Rivierez own goal in added time compounded Metz's misery as Phillipe Hinschberger's side came crashing back down to earth following an opening-day win against Lille.

David Luiz almost handed PSG the perfect start after just two minutes but the former Chelsea defender failed to get a telling touch to Angel Di Maria's dangerous free-kick.

Di Maria's audacious lob drifted wide with Metz keeper Thomas Didillon stranded, before Rivierez blocked the Argentinian's half-volley moments later.

Unai Emery's side felt they should have had a penalty when Simon Falette appeared to pull Edinson Cavani's shirt and Javier Pastore then fizzed a shot wide of the post before Cavani was denied by Didillon.

Di Maria saw an effort hacked off the line following a scramble in the area and Cavani saw a goalbound attempt deflected onto the post by a last-ditch Falette challenge.

Cavani had another penalty claim denied after going down under a Rivierez challenge, while Lucas and Luiz both went close with efforts late on in the half.

Despite going in at the break goalless, PSG did not have to wait much longer as they made a deserved breakthrough soon after the restart.

Serge Aurier did well on the counter and, after his ball found Lucas in the area, PSG's number seven finished with aplomb, firing the ball across Didillon into the bottom corner.

All of their good work was almost undone moments later, though, when some slack defending allowed an umarked Falette a free header, but thankfully for the hosts it was straight at Kevin Trapp.

Metz continued to press and only some great work from Trapp prevented Mevlut Erdinc from stunning the Parc des Princes after linking up well with Renaud Cohade.

PSG all but wrapped up the points midway through the second half when an unmarked Kurzawa powered a header beyond Didillon from Di Maria's corner.

Luiz inadvertently drew another sharp save from Trapp but at the right end of the field, Cavani fired wide from close range when Di Maria's fantastic effort came back off the bar.

The Uruguay international was guilty of wasteful finishing once again when he dragged a volley wide of the target following yet more good work from Di Maria.

In the end his misfortune counted for nothing, though, as Rivierez headed Marco Verratti's shot beyond his own keeper in added time to hand PSG a comfortable 3-0 win.