Di Maria inspires PSG to win over Malmo

• 

Angel Di Maria brought his delicate touch to Paris St Germain's game as the French champions started their Champions League campaign with a routine 2-0 home win against Malmo on Tuesday.

Di Maria scored after four minutes of their Group A match and Edinson Cavani made it 2-0 with a 61st minute header in a one-way encounter at the Parc des Princes.

Playing against the club where he started his career, PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked rusty, having played only one league game in an injury-plagued start to his season. He was replaced by Javier Pastore 15 minutes from time.

Malmo thought their moment had come in the 26th minute but Markus Rosenberg's goal was disallowed after the forward had fouled Thiago Silva.

Much of the build up to the match centred on Ibrahimovic facing his boyhood side, but the Swede, who missed the last league game because of an abdominal muscle injury, for once did not take the starring role.

That fell to Di Maria who shone, showing he has what it takes to lift PSG to the next level after the French champions were knocked out in the quarter-finals in the three previous editions.

The Argentine, brought in from Manchester United during the close season, beat the offside trap to collect Marco Verratti's pass on the right flank and from the inside the box, whipped the ball into the far top corner for his first PSG goal.

Malmo thought their moment had come in the 26th minute but Markus Rosenberg's goal was disallowed after the forward had fouled Thiago Silva.

Di Maria came close to doubling the tally but his long-range attempt shaved Johan Wiland's right post as PSG imposed their possessive pattern on the game.

Malmo, however, played tighter after the break but they still conceded another just after the hour when Cavani headed home after Maxwell's cross from the left had been deflected into his path by Ibrahimovic.
David Luiz, unmarked at the penalty spot, missed an opportunity to put the hammer down on the game, sending a header straight at Wiland from close range.

The visitors, however, had abandoned all hope and with the three points secured, coach Laurent Blanc substituted Di Maria, who received warm applause from the crowd, with Ezequiel Lavezzi coming on four minutes from time.

PSG next take on 10-time champions Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes on Oct. 21.