Ezequiel Lavezzi stars as Paris Saint-Germain cruise past Valenciennes

Paris Saint-Germain have increased their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to eight points after a comfortable 3-0 win over Valenciennes.

Ezequiel Lavezzi put in a dominant performance, making the difference for the French champions just days after his uncle was killed in Argentina.

The hosts started confidently and pinned their opponents back with a series of early corners.

They failed to find the breakthrough until 19 minutes in, when Lavezzi won a free kick on the edge of the box. The Argentine picked himself up and reacted quickest to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's deflected effort to fire PSG in front.

Ibrahimovic then thought he had added a second just before the break, but his strike was ruled out after he was adjudged to have pushed a defender in the build-up.

The Swede didn't have to wait long to make amends, finding space five minutes into the second half and smashing home from Yohan Cabaye's cross.

PSG wrapped the game up moments later, with Lavezzi again involved, sprinting down the left before firing across goal where Gary Kagelmacher could only divert the ball into his own net.

The home side eased off after that, taking both Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic off before seeing out the game for three points.