PSG's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani scored a double at a rain-soaked Parc des Princes on Friday as the French title holders thrashed Lorient 4-0 to go three points clear of Monaco at the top of France's Ligue 1.

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Paris Saint Germain were singing in the rain at Parc des Princes on Friday, the French champions making light of the wintery weather to ease past Lorient 4-0 and extend their unbeaten Ligue 1 run to 23 games.

Goals from Lucas, Jeremy Menez and an Edinson Cavani double lifted Laurent Blanc's men three points clear of Monaco at the top of the table.

The performance was a perfect riposte to Blanc's eve-of-match warning about the danger of complacency seeping into his swashbuckling team and their laboured 2-2 draw with Saint Etienne last time out.

The former France boss needn't have worried as this Friday night run out against struggling Lorient left PSG only six games shy of the club record of 37 games without losing.

"This is a very good result. The satisfaction is at all levels, individually and collectively," said Blanc.

"We scored goals, created lots of chances and kept the ball despite the difficult weather conditions.

"Our philosophy for the game is the same whatever team we put out. There are players who have little playing time but they always demonstrate their qualities."

Blanc retained his preferred 4-3-3 system with Cavani filling in the role of Swedish star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, missing with an injured knee.

PSG raced into a three minute lead when Brazil midfielder Lucas, unattended by the far post, volleyed the ball past Lorient keeper Fabien Audard in a move begun by Lucas Digne.

Menez doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval, outfoxing Baptiste Reynet, who had come on to replace the injured Audard between the Lorient posts.

The Ligue 1 champions were running riot in the rain and Cavani's header made it three after stoic work by Lucas to tighten their grip on the game before they headed off to the dressing rooms.

Lorient never looked capable of fighting their way back and the final word fittingly went to PSG when Cavani fired in a rebound after a late corner taken by Menez to cap a good night's work in the French capital.

That was the Uruguayan's ninth of the season and he now heads the Ligue 1 scoring charts.

While Lorient were left hovering just three points above the relegation zone for PSG this win will act as an ideal springboard to next week's Champions League date with Anderlecht.

Monaco, who had sat second on goal difference before Friday's action in the French capital, can reduce the gap when they face third-placed Lille on Sunday.



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