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Angel Di Maria scores a free-kick at Dijon.

No Champions League hangover as Di Maria dazzles in PSG win

Angel Di Maria starred as Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0 at Dijon in their first match since crashing out of the Champions League.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN began the process of putting another Champions League collapse behind them as they eased to a 4-0 Ligue 1 win at relegation-threatened Dijon.

Thomas Tuchel’s men have again been left to lick their wounds following a European disappointment after surrendering a 2-0 first-leg lead against Manchester United in the last 16, losing 3-1 at Parc des Princes last week.

The inquest into their latest meltdown in Europe’s biggest club competition will go on, but PSG did at least continue their procession to another Ligue 1 title in style at Stade Gaston-Gerard on Tuesday.

Kylian Mbappe, who said he has had trouble sleeping in the aftermath of the United defeat, had a goal sandwiched by fine finishes from Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria — the latter a wonderful free-kick — as PSG moved 17 points clear of Lille at the top of the table.

Substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s second league goal for the club added gloss to the scoreline in second-half injury time.

Any hope Dijon had of furthering PSG’s misery was dented after just seven minutes, when two markers allowed Marquinhos to head home a Di Maria corner at the near post.

The hosts did not lack the confidence to press in search of a quick response and Wesley Said flashed a long-range effort wide before Mbappe was thwarted by an impressive Runar Runarsson save at the other end.

Mbappe did double the lead five minutes before half-time, however, bundling home Layvin Kurzawa’s low left-wing delivery into an empty net after Runarsson failed to deal with it.

Just five minutes after the restart Di Maria extinguished any lingering Dijon hopes by bending a free-kick in off the right-hand post.

Mbappe was less fortunate as he struck the woodwork late on, but there was more misery for Dijon, who remain in the relegation play-off spot, as Choupo-Moting slid home a fourth in the 92nd minute.

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    Mute Ardmore02
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    Mar 12th 2019, 9:50 PM

    Their league aspirations received a massive boost being knocked out of the CL. At least they can now concentrate on the league and maybe win it by at least 25 points.

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    Mute Johnny O Flaherty
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    Mar 12th 2019, 9:34 PM

    Who cares they choked the big one

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    Mute Colo J
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    Mar 12th 2019, 10:06 PM

    Back to hammering the farmers…

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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Mar 12th 2019, 10:51 PM

    @Colo J: Dijon just didn’t cut the mustard!!

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    Mute GERRY IVIE
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    Mar 12th 2019, 10:03 PM

    Calm down PSG. It was Dijon! Wow! I could pick a decent X1 from the locker room in work to beat them.

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    Mute Pundit Feed
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    Mar 12th 2019, 10:27 PM

    If you think you’ve ever made a bad decision in life, just remember that Buffon went to PSG to win the Champions League.

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    Mute Ardmore02
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    Mar 12th 2019, 10:54 PM

    @Pundit Feed: no he didn’t. he went to PSG to prolong his CL career and still play somewhat at the top level. he was 40 going there. it’s not as if he had a choice of Barca, Real Madrid or B Munich. PSG are a nothing club and they got wjatbtjeu deserved.

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