Lille 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Neymar shines in thrashing
Neymar continued his emphatic goal scoring form to ensure Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Lille to stay 11 points clear of Marseille on Saturday.
It was the Brazilian forward's 18th league goal in as many games, and 27th in all competitions, as Unai Emery's side kept up their push to regain the league title from Monaco.
The league leaders were without teenager Kylian Mbappe, who was serving the first of his three-match suspension for the red card he received in last weekend's 3-2 victory at Rennes.
Neymar led the way as Paris Saint-Germain maintained an 11-point Ligue 1 lead on Saturday
The Brazilian superstar's free kick was the second in PSG's a 3-0 thrashing at Lille
Neymar celebrates his strike with PSG and Brazil compatriot Dani Alves
His team-mates were more than capable of plugging the gap in his absence though.
Left back Yuri Berchiche put PSG ahead on the stroke of half time, followed by Neymar's 78th-minute strike, with midfielder Giovani Lo Celso completing a comfortable win late on.
Neymar, though, was the start of the show throughout, having a hand in the opening goal, too.
He whipped a cross for Edinson Cavani and defender Junior Alonso went to contest the ball with the Uruguayan near the penalty spot. But Alonso inadvertently knocked it into the path of Berchiche, who struck home a low shot for his second goal of the season.
Neymar's eventual goal wouldn't come until the 77th-minute, but it was well worth the wait.
He caressed a free kick into the top left corner, via the post, leaving Lille goalkeeper to hopelessly stretch for the ball as it flew into his net.
Lo Celso grabbed his first for PSG with a super chipped effort from the left of the penalty area into the right corner.
MATCH FACTS AND LIGUE 1 TABLE Lille (4-1-4-1): Maignan; Miguel, Dabila, Alonso, Toure; Amadou; El Ghazi, Bissouma (Alencar 81), Ribeiro, Mendyl (Pepe 57); Ponce (Neto 67) Subs not used: Soumare, Araujo, Faraj, Coulibaly, Koffi Booked: Alonso 74 Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Areola; Alves, Marquinhos, Silva, Berchiche; Verratti (Nkunku 85), Lo Celso, Pastore (Diarra 64); Di María (Meunier 72), Cavani, Neymar Subs not used: N'Soki, Trapp, Kimpembe, Kurzawa Goals: Berchiche 45+1; Neymar 77; Lo Celso 87 Booked: Verratti 56 Attendance: 49,082
PSG team-mates congratulate defender Yuri Berchiche after opening the scoring
Neymar's free kick was his 18th league goal in as many games and 27th in all competitions