Di Maria on the mark as PSG turn focus to Real

Holy messenger Di Maria kept up his compelling structure as a Paris Saint-Germain side missing Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe vanquished Troyes 2-0 in front of their Champions League confrontation with Real Madrid. 

The Argentine scored his thirteenth objective in 14 begins this year amid Saturday's visit to the Stade de l'Aube, which matched with Neymar effectively experiencing a task to repair a softened bone up his correct foot. 

Institute item Christopher Nkunku denoted his first beginning of the season with his first objective this term 13 minutes from time to finish a triumph that left PSG 14 focuses clear of shielding champions Monaco at the highest point of Ligue 1. 

"In front of a major match and after (group and French Cup prevails upon) Marseille, I'm exceptionally upbeat since we kept up our level of play," PSG mentor Unai Emery said. 

"I need the players to be prepared (against Real). The players all need to play and that settles on the choice harder for me, yet it's better that way." 

With a 3-1 shortage to overcome in the second leg of their last-16 tie against Real on Tuesday, Emery declined to chance Cavani while Mbappe remained in Paris to proceed with treatment on a lower leg damage managed against Marseille in midweek. 

Marco Verratti was additionally refreshed for Saturday's outing, as Di Maria again took full preferred standpoint of the open door exhibited to a few individuals from PSG's extravagantly amassed squad in the wake of Neymar's damage. 

Di Maria himself was feted as the player to transform PSG into certified Champions League contenders when he marked from Manchester United for 63 million euros ($78 million) in 2015, and the 30-year-old has seemingly been their best entertainer generally. 

"Holy messenger is an imperative player who has the quality to have the effect," Emery said. 

"He has both the certainty and the want. We need the players to be getting it done level on Tuesday, and for some like Angel, it will be an extraordinary minute." 

- Weah imitates his dad - 

Troyes goalkeeper Erwin Zelazny created a progression of recoveries to deny Di Maria, and afterward Giovani Lo Celso twice in the primary half, yet the home objective was broken after a protective slip by on 47 minutes. 

A poor freedom took after by promote miscommunication in the Troyes backline talented Julian Draxler the opening to slide in Di Maria and the Argentine unbelievably dinked the ball over a progressing Zelazny. 

Twenty-year-old Nkunku fixed the win on 77 minutes, selecting the furthest corner of the net in the wake of social affair a strung go from Dani Alves as the linesman's wave to dubiously remained. 

Troyes supervisor Jean-Louis Garcia and his colleague were both requested to the stands in the wake of challenging the choice to permit the objective, with replays showing Nkunku had strayed possibly offside. 

Emery at that point gave a first-group presentation to Timothy Weah, as the child of previous PSG star, and current Liberian president, George Weah swapped Lo Celso for the last couple of minutes. 

The 18-year-old US youth global, whose father won the 1995 Ballon d'Or, about sacked an introduction objective in stoppage time subsequent to hustling clear of the Troyes barrier before being thwarted by Zelazny. 

Objectives from Wahbi Khazri and Ismaila Sarr moved Rennes up to fifth affability of a 2-0 triumph at Amiens, while Slovenia forward Robert Beric got twice for Saint-Etienne in a 2-2 draw with Dijon. 

Infuriates pulled clear of the transfer zone with a 3-0 home prevail upon Guingamp, however Metz remain solidly attached to the base subsequent to yielding a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against kindred strugglers Toulouse. 

On Friday, Rony Lopes scored his 6th objective in seven diversions as Monaco dug out from a deficit to beat Bordeaux 2-1 to fix their grasp on second place, with Marseille and Lyon not in real life until Sunday. 

Source: AFP