Paris Saint-Germain 3 - 0 Marseille: Angel Di Maria at the double as PSG beat Marseille again

Posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 by PA

Angel Di Maria netted a brace as Paris St Germain moved into the Coupe de France semi-finals with another 3-0 win over Marseille at the Parc de Princes.

Di Maria struck in first-half stoppage time and again the 48th minute, with Edinson Cavani adding an 81st-minute effort, to send defending champions PSG through three days on from them beating OM at home by the same score in Ligue 1.

That match had seen them lose Neymar to injury, the Brazil forward suffering a fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle.

And it was announced just prior to Wednesday’s quarter-final that the world’s most expensive footballer would undergo surgery at the end of the week.

Neymar’s absence – particularly with regard to next week’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid – is an obvious concern for PSG, but they were comfortable without the 26-year-old as they saw off Marseille once again.

Di Maria had already brought a good save out of Steve Mandanda when he put the hosts in front, collecting a pass from Julian Draxler and taking one touch with his left before firing in with his right from just outside the box.

The Argentinian then doubled the advantage as he connected with a Yuri Berchiche delivery.

Di Maria and Draxler went close to adding a third and Javier Pastore’s header was well saved by Mandanda before Cavani wrapped things up, firing in having been teed up by Draxler.