The win for PSG meant they claimed a third domestic trophy for the second successive season, and prepared for next week’s Champions League final in style.

Luis Enrique’s Ligue 1 champions and French Super Cup winners had little trouble seeing off relegation-battling Reims, with all the goals in the opening half at the Stade de France.

This was as PSG strolled to a record-extending 16th French Cup win.

PSG went on the attack from the off, and while Reims managed the first shot on target — Amadou Kone’s long-range effort never troubling goalkeeper Matvey Safonov — they offered little opposition over the 90 minutes.

Russian Safonov was chosen ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma but otherwise Luis Enrique selected his strongest side.

Although Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, named in the initial starting 11, was replaced by Desire Doue before kickoff.

PSG dominated with slick passing, constantly pressing forward with intent, and Reims’ resolve was broken with two goals in quick succession from Bradley Barcola, which were both set up by Doue.

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Doue’s pass sent Barcola free in the 16th minute and he raced past his marker before whipping a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Three minutes later Marquinhos played a defence-splitting pass into the area to the feet of Doue, whose across the goal was tapped in by the perfectly positioned Barcola.

“We got off to a good start and got the job done quickly. We set a lot of pace, both defensively and offensively, and it paid off,” Barcola told reporters.

Even with their two-goal advantage, PSG did not take their foot off the gas.

Yehvann Diouf’s fine save denied Ousmane Dembele, who pulled a shot wide of the far post from a great position, but a third goal was always coming.

It duly arrived two minutes from the break, with Barcola turning provider by playing the perfect ball across the box which Achraf Hakimi finished off at the back post.

PSG maintained the intensity after the interval, Diouf having to be quick off his line to deny Joao Neves a close-range chance and the keeper then made a reflex save to keep out Barcola’s shot.

The second half was little more than a training session for PSG, with Reims again pinned back in their own half.

While they failed to add to their goal tally, Luis Enrique’s players will be full of belief for the challenge ahead.

PSG will aim to lift their first Champions League trophy when they take on Inter Milan in Munich next Saturday to cap off what would be the capital club’s greatest season.

“We knew we had to get the job done today to prepare well for the (Champions League) final, and we did it.

“Now, we will arrive to the next match with confidence,” Barcola said.

Reims must now attempt to secure Ligue 1 survival with the second leg of their relegation playoff at home to Metz on Thursday.

The sides are level at 1-1 after the first leg.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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Argentine striker Mauro Icardi scored twice to give them a 2-0 win at struggling Reims.

The result lifted PSG to seventh place on nine points from five games, four behind leaders Rennes, while Reims stayed 19th on one point.

Icardi fired the visitors ahead in the ninth minute with a crisp low shot into the far corner from 10 metres after a perfect assist by Kylian Mbappe.

Reims goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic then kept the home side afloat with several fine saves.

Neymar spurned a gilt-edged chance in the 43rd minute when he shot wide after beating three defenders with a dazzling solo run.

The hosts missed their best opportunity on the hour when substitute Boulaye Dia hit the post.

They were punished barely a minute later as good work by Mbappe and Julian Draxler left Icardi with a simple finish.

Mbappe notched his second assist of the night, exchanging a one-two with Draxler before squaring the ball to Icardi for a tap-in from close range into an empty net.

Rajkovic produced another fine stop midway through the second half to deny .

The France forward was guilty of poor finishing in the 82nd minute as he shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat after a fast break.

Pablo Sarabia blazed a shot over the bar and Neymar’s free-kick sailed inches wide in the closing stages.

Earlier on Sunday, Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice in Monaco’s 3-2 win over visiting Strasbourg, with the home side having Aurelien Tchouameni and Axel Disasi sent off in the second half.

Last season’s UEFA Champions League semi-finalists Olympique Lyonnais continued their patchy start with a 1-1 draw at 16th-placed Lorient which left them 11th on six points.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The French champions, who still lead the standings with 15 points from seven games, looked nothing like the team which crushed Real Madrid 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League last week.

They failed to create clear chances at the Parc des Princes.

Hassane Kamara headed home in the first half and Boulaye Dia doubled the tally with a bicycle kick in added time to give the visitors a deserved victory.

Reims are eighth on 11 points.

Earlier, Victor Osimhen scored his sixth league goal of the season to inspire Lille to a 2-0 home win over Racing Strasbourg.

The 20-year-old Nigerian opened the scoring and Loic Remy doubled the lead as the side from northern France moved up to third in the standings on 13 points.

Angers are second, behind PSG on goal difference, after Rachid Alioui’s late double gave them a 2-0 win at Toulouse.

Olympique Lyonnais extended their winless streak to six games in all competitions.

Goals by Maxwel Cornet and Moussa Dembele were cancelled out by Yoann Court’s double in a 2-2 draw at Stade Brestois.

Lille will take on Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League next week when Lyon, who are 11th in Ligue 1 on nine points, travel to RB Leipzig.

With Idrissa Gueye rested, Marco Verratti suspended and Marquinhos on the bench, PSG, already without injured strikers Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani, struggled at the Parc des Princes, especially in midfield.

Kamara put the visitors ahead on 29 minutes as he headed home from Marshall Munetsi’s cross with his team’s first effort on target.

Eric Choupo-Moting was replaced by Angel Di Maria shortly before the interval after colliding with Neymar but that did little to lift the hosts.

It was Reims who threatened, but Oudin’s crossed shot from inside the area hit Keylor Navas’s right-hand post in the 78th minute.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were unable to create danger in the closing stages and were effectively handed their first home defeat in Ligue 1 since they lost to Rennes 2-0 at the Parc in May 2018.

This was when Dia’s strike four minutes into stoppage time sealed victory for Reims.

Source:  Reuters/NAN

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