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There’s something about Ángel Di María that changes when Neymar isn’t in the lineup with him for PSG. For whatever reason, the Argentine seems to take his play to another level when he’s the lead creative force.
Di María started against Nice without names like Neymar, Edinson Cavani or Kylian Mbappé alongside him on Friday. Those superstars weren’t needed, because Di María provided two magnificent goals early on in PSG’s 4-1 win.
Without some of the club’s biggest names in the lineup Friday, Di María was joined in a front four by Pablo Sarabia, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Mauro Icardi. It looked at first like it could be a long day for the reigning Ligue 1 champs when Walter Benítez looked unbeatable after this play in the third minute.
@ogcnice_eng GK Walter Benitez deserves a standing ovation after early display against @PSG_English #OGCNPSG
- beIN SPORTS
- https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/lpXBvsYZ5T— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 18, 2019
But has he often does when PSG’s bigger names are injured, rested or just not delivering, Di María stepped up.
In the 15th minute, Icardi made the most of a poor pass from Thomas Meunier to send a first-time through ball to Di María. Meunier’s pass was just bad enough to draw in the defense but not too bad that Icardi couldn’t eliminate the entire Nice back line with one brilliant ball. Three touches later, Di María was slotting home the first goal.
A mere six minutes later, Di María doubled his side’s lead with a contender for Ligue 1 goal of the season.
Played in behind the Nice defense with a slightly better ball from Meunier, Di María didn’t appear to have anywhere to go with the ball heading toward the end line as Dante closed in on him and with few passing options.
But Di María spotted Benítez, a fellow Argentine, slightly off his line and pulled off a spectacular chip.
An audacious flick from Di Maria doubles @PSG_English's lead over @ogcnice_eng#OGCNPSG
- beIN SPORTS
- https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/x3ZXDcSdzs— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 18, 2019
Despite Di María’s influence, the match got a little dicey for PSG in the second half.
Nice pulled one goal back after some sloppy defending from Marquinhos led to a strike from Ignatius Ganago.
However, things got a little easier for the Parisians when Nice midfielder Wylan Cyprien was sent off for dissent with a second yellow card in the 74th minute. Moments later, after consulting the VAR, Christophe Hérelle was sent off for a slight smack to the face of Leandro Paredes. Down to nine men — and with Mbappé coming on shortly thereafter — Nice had no chance to complete the comeback.
Mbappé marked his return from injury with a goal to put the match away, cleaning up a blocked Di María cross with a goal in the 88th minute.
And just for good measure, Di María and Mbappé combined to set up the final goal, a tap-in for Icardi in the 91st minute.
The 4-1 win extended PSG’s lead atop the Ligue 1 table to five, albeit with a game in hand over second-place Nantes.
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