Adam Crafton
Just in case Manchester City required one final reminder of the striking prowess of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish forward served further notice of his devastating form as PSG strolled to a 4-1 victory over Nice.
Ibrahimovic prepared for the visit of Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the Champions League in perfect fashion, offering yet another demonstration of his spectacular finishing as he scored a glorious hat-trick to lift his Ligue 1 tally to 30 for the season.
On a highly comfortable evening for the already anointed French champions, Laurent Blanc was able to field a near full-strength side, save only for the absences of Javier Pastore, Marco Verratti and Angel Di Maria. Playmakers Verratti and Pastore are almost certain to miss the visit of City but Di Maria was rested after picking up a niggle on international duty and is expected to return.
As such, PSG breezed to a success with a side that still featured star names such as Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Lucas Moura but Ibrahimovic was the headline act once more.
It was he who opened the scoring inside 15 minutes. David Luiz was the provider, sending a piercing ball over the top of the Nice defence. Ibrahimovic followed its trajectory into the penalty area, allowing the ball to drop onto the top of his boot.
The control was sublime but the angle was still against him. Implausibly, however, Ibrahimovic adjusted his balance, set himself and unleashed a thunderous strike into the far corner of the goal. It was a truly sumptuous goal and the latest addition to his personal portfolio of outstanding individual moments.
Parity for Nice did not last long. Ibrahimovic, almost affronted that his own majesty should be usurped, responded in kind. Lucas Moura was felled on the edge of the penalty area, a touch to the right of centre. Ibrahimovic collected the ball and placed it down with intent.
He strutted up slowly before leathering a strike goalwards with all the power he could summon from that explosive right boot. He struck it with his laces, searing towards the goalkeepers side with such fearsome velocity that it was past poor old Yoan Cardinale in the goal in a flash. Ibrahimovc simply turned and smiled and from there on, it became a procession towards victory.
Shortly after the break, David Luiz glanced home from a corner and despite Nice contributing handsomely to the game with some neat and tidy possession, Ibrahimovic confirmed the rout – and his hat-trick – with a clinical finish when played through by the impressive Adrien Rabiot late on.
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