Cavani, Lucas braces postpone Monaco party
Paris Saint-Germain beat Saint-Etienne 4-0 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard courtesy of doubles from Edinson Cavani and Lucas Moura to keep it slim chances of retaining the Ligue 1 title alive.
Cavani opened the scoring early on with a sublime header, with Lucas making it two shortly before the break, and both attackers struck again after the interval to seal the win.
The victory keeps PSG in title race mathematically, but the reigning champion will need a miracle if it is to overhaul Monaco, which toppled Lille.
Unai Emery's men are trailing the league leaders by three points ahead of their final game against Caen, but Monaco still have a game in hand and a far superior goal difference.
Monaco will be crowned champion with at least a draw when it takes on Saint-Etienne on Thursday and will get another chance against Rennes at the weekend.
A title for Monaco would end PSG's hegemony after four years, with the last time the capital side had to settle for second place coming in the 2011-2012 campaign, when the Stade Louis II were in the second tier.
PSG got off to a superb start and needed just 80 seconds to grab the lead via Cavani. Maxwell sent in a fine cross from the left and the Uruguay international beat his marker to the ball before his strong header into the top corner left goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier without a chance.
The visitor immediately went on the hunt for more and Lucas was unfortunate not to make it two when he aimed just wide after a mazy run through the middle, with Blaise Matuidi next to send a shot inches wide of the left post following some good work from Julian Draxler.
There was no denying Lucas in the 38th minute, though, as the Brazil international coolly fired a shot into the top corner after a ball over the top from Marco Verratti, holding off Florentin Pogba on his way to beating Ruffier.
Draxler should have made it three early in the second half when presented with a gilt-edged chance by Matuidi, only for the Germany international to aim a tame attempt straight at Ruffier from 10 yards out.
Cavani then missed a number of chances to add a third, but he eventually got his 35th goal of the season when he slid the ball past Ruffier at the second time of asking.
There was still more to come from PSG, though, as Lucas netted his second goal of the evening as well when he tapped home a rebound to make it 4-0.
