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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Cavani scores twice as PSG hammer Nantes

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs FC Nantes - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - November 18, 2017 Paris Saint-Germain’s Giovani Lo Celso, Dani Alves and Thiago Silva celebrate after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris St Germain's unstoppable march towards the Ligue 1 title continued when Edinson Cavani's double inspired them to a 4-1 home win against Nantes on Saturday.

Cavani netted either side of half-time as Javier Pastore and Angel Di Maria also scored to put the unbeaten capital side on 35 points from 13 games, six ahead of second-placed Monaco after the champions were held to a 1-1 at Amiens on Friday.

Nantes, who are fifth on 23 points, scored through Prejuce Nakoulma as Claudio Ranieri's team faltered under pressure.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs FC Nantes - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - November 18, 2017 Paris Saint Germain players celebrate in front of their fans after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

The visitors got off to a solid start but cracked before half-time.

Cavani opened the scoring with a clinical finish from inside the box after being perfectly set up by Pastore.

It was the Uruguay striker's 14th goal after 13 games in the league, the best tally in the French championship since Dick van Dijk with Nice in the 1972-73 season.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs FC Nantes - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - November 18, 2017 Paris Saint-Germain’s Alphonse Areola celebrates after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Di Maria doubled the advantage three minutes later with a curled cross that nobody could connect with and ended up in the back of the net at the far post.

Nakulma reduced the arrears on the hour mark from close range but Nantes' hopes were short lived.

Five minutes later, Pastore restored a two-goal advantage for the hosts with a powerful shot after being set up by Marco Verratti's through ball.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs FC Nantes - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - November 18, 2017 Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar in action with Nantes' Ciprian Tatarusanu REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Cavani put the game to bed 11 minutes from time, poking the ball home from a packed goal-mouth.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs FC Nantes - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - November 18, 2017 Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos in action with Nantes' Diego Carlos REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs FC Nantes - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - November 18, 2017 Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani celebrates with Neymar after scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs FC Nantes - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - November 18, 2017 Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani celebrates with team mates after scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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