23 April 2007, by Sean Gillen

Pauleta hits masterful brace to ease PSG to safety

Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Nantes

Pedro Pauleta scored a superb brace as Paris Saint-Germain moved six points clear of the relegation zone with a 4-0 home win over bottom placed Nantes.

Having been left out of the side for PSG’s 0-0 draw at Bordeaux last weekend, the Portuguese striker was recalled to the starting lineup for the match at the Parc Des Princes, and he proved the catalyst for a convincing victory.

Pauleta opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a trademark free-kick. From a little over twenty metres, the Azorean took a short run-up and sidefooted the ball past Fabien Barthez and in off the inside of the post.

The hosts doubled their advantage at a crucial time just before the break, with injury-plagued winger Jerome Rothen clinically smashing the ball past Barthez with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area.

Portugal’s all-time record goalscorer got his second and PSG’s third twenty minutes into the second half, and it was another superb goal. Pauleta picked up possession inside his own half and set off on a run into the Nantes half, before playing a swift one-two with Peguy Luyindula and calmly slotting the ball home for his 12th league goal of the season.

January signing Luyindula got his name on the scoresheet just two minutes later when Rothen crossed from the left to find the striker in space inside the box, and Luyindula slipped the ball past Barthez.

Both Pauleta and Luyindula were then withdrawn by PSG coach Paul Le Guen, ahead of a tough match at Toulouse next weekend. The next home match for the side from the capital comes against champions Lyon on 5 May.

Paris Saint-Germain:
Landreau, Rozehnal, Armand, Traore, Clement, Cisse, Mulumbu, Rothen, Luyindula (Rodriguez, 70), Frau (Gallardo, 74), Pauleta (Diane, 70)
Yellow Cards: Cisse (34), Pauleta (51)

Nantes:
Barthez, Signorino (Savinaud, 63), Cetto, Cubilier, Guillon, Da Rocha, Saidou, Vaingueur (Rossi, 74), Payet, Keseru (Zairi, 46), Diallo
Yellow Cards: Cetto (21), Diallo (25), Guillon (51)

Goals:
[1-0] Pauleta, 18
[2-0] Rothen, 44
[3-0] Pauleta, 65
[4-0] Luyindula, 67