French leader PSG wins 4-0 at Dijon to move 17 points clear

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PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0 at Dijon on Tuesday to move toward another inevitable French title, although that will not mask the club's ongoing shortcomings in Europe.

The defending champion moved a massive 17 points clear of second-place Lille, which has played one game more. PSG has scored 83 goals compared to only 15 conceded in 27 games.

Brazilian Marquinhos headed PSG in front from Angel Di Maria's corner in the seventh minute and Kylian Mbappe bundled in left back Layvin Kurzawa's cross with his thigh in the 42nd. It was the 20-year-old Mbappe's league-leading 25th of the season and 30th overall.

Di Maria expertly curled in a free kick in the 51st and striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting capped off an easy win with the fourth goal in injury time after being set up by right back Thomas Meunier. It was only his second league goal since a summer move from Stoke.

"I think it was an excellent response tonight given the difficult moment the club had last Wednesday," said Meunier, referring to the calamitous 3-1 defeat to Manchester United which sent PSG tumbling out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage for the third straight season.

Still, it was achieved against a team fighting relegation in 18th spot and which lost 8-0 at PSG last season and had a 39-year-old in central midfield. TV footage showed veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon dramatically hugging his PSG teammates in the tunnel moments before the game, despite the meager opposition.

Around 500 PSG fans were expected to attend the game but 400 of them reportedly decided to boycott it in protest at the manner of the United defeat, which Tuchel dismissed on Monday as merely an accident .

PSG faces bitter rival Marseille in what will be a tense atmosphere at Parc des Princes on Sunday night.