Neymar not missed as PSG breeze to 3-0 win over Nimes
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Edinson Cavani scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
PARIS (Reuters) - Paris St Germain's star-studded attack brushed off the absence of Neymar as Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and substitute Angel Di Maria all got on the scoresheet in a comfortable 3-0 home win over Nimes in their Ligue 1 opener on Sunday.
The champions left the 27-year-old Brazil forward out of their squad as he continues to be linked with a move away from the French capital, and PSG fans on the terraces waved banners containing messages to signal their displeasure with him.
PSG were awarded a penalty courtesy of VAR when referee Clement Turpin reviewed footage of a corner and deemed Nimes defender Pablo Martinez had handled the ball.
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal with Edinson Cavani and team mates REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
The Nimes players and coaches protested because play was allowed to continue for more than a minute before the referee looked at the incident, but their complaints were to no avail and Cavani slammed home the spot kick in the 24th minute.
Mbappe doubled the advantage 11 minutes into the second half, thumping a first-time shot into the top left corner, and Argentine winger Di Maria fired home a sweet left-foot strike in the 69th minute to complete the rout.
Earlier on Sunday, two goals from Lille striker Victor Osimhen secured a 2-1 win at home to Nantes, while Metz grabbed a point with a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg.
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring their third goal with Edinson Cavani and team mates REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe in action with Nimes Olympique's Sofiane Alakouch REUTERS/Philippe WojazerSoccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Juan Bernat in action with Nimes Olympique's Zinedine Ferhat REUTERS/Philippe WojazerSoccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain fans REUTERS/Philippe WojazerSoccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Pablo Sarabia in action with Nimes Olympique's Pablo Martinez REUTERS/Philippe WojazerSoccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Marco Verratti in action with Nimes Olympique's Zinedine Ferhat REUTERS/Philippe WojazerSoccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain fans REUTERS/Philippe WojazerSoccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Nimes Olympique - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - August 11, 2019 Paris St Germain sporting director Leonardo with CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi in the stands REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
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