Ibrahimovic double leads PSG past Bastia

Ibrahimovic slotted home the opener on 72 minutes at the Stade Armand Cesari after he was set up by Edinson Cavani despite the Uruguayan being offside in the build-up.

The Swede then netted his second of the contest seven minutes from time as Paris registered their fourth straight league win and avenged last season's shock 4-2 defeat in Corsica. 

It was a far from convincing performance from Laurent Blanc's men but the result kept Paris five points clear of Angers and Caen at the top.  

"I'm very happy with the three points and that will allow us to prepare well for Real Madrid (next week)," Blanc said afterwards.

"Our preparation hasn't been ideal with players returning very late (from the international break) and having travelled long distances.

"But that's the norm for big clubs, particularly those with lots of South Americans."

Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu made his first start of the season in place of the injured Kevin Trapp, while PSG were also without Blaise Matuidi due to suspension as well as injured duo Marco Verratti and David Luiz.

Meanwhile, Angel di Maria was rested ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash at home to Real Madrid with Adrien Rabiot and Benjamin Stambouli handed starts in central midfield.

Javier Pastore's diving header that skipped wide of the post on 20 minutes represented the visitors' best chance in a fairly uneventful first half.

There was a hairy moment for Sirigu, however, on his return to the side as a poor pass from the Italian was pounced upon by Gael Danic but the 'keeper redeemed himself by blocking at the feet of the Bastia midfielder just before the half-hour. 

Ibrahimovic had the ball in the back of the net just after half-time but his effort was correctly ruled out for offside, while Bastia 'keeper Jean-Louis Leca held well from a crisply-struck Cavani volley on the hour.

- Controversy -  

Rabiot then planted a header straight at Leca following a corner but Paris eventually made the breakthrough, albeit in controversial circumstances.

Cavani latched on to a clipped ball over the top from Pastore and then showed excellent composure as he teed up Ibrahimovic to slot home from close range, but Bastia were left feeling aggrieved as replays indicated the Uruguayan was in a clear offside position as he broke in behind the defence.

The Swede then made the points safe on 83 minutes with his second straight brace, having netted both goals in a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Marseille before the international break, as he tucked away a cutback from Serge Aurier.

Elsewhere, second-placed Angers continued their remarkable return to the French top flight as goals from Cheikh Ndoye and Abdoul Camara saw them win 2-1 at Toulouse after falling behind to an Oscar Trejo strike.

Caen stayed third, level on points with Angers, as Julien Feret's second-half effort steered them to a 1-0 victory away to Reims.

Saint-Etienne bounced back from consecutive defeats with Robert Beric and Kevin Monnet-Paquet on target in a 2-0 win over bottom side Gazelec Ajaccio.

Goals from Valentin Rongier, Youssouf Sabaly and Yacine Bammou steered Nantes to a 3-0 victory over Troyes, while Guingamp striker Jimmy Briand cancelled out Sofiane Boufal's opener for Lille in a 1-1 draw.

On Friday, former Manchester United defender Rafael salvaged a 1-1 draw with an 85th-minute equaliser for Lyon at ten-man Monaco.

Mario Pasalic, on loan from Chelsea, netted his first Ligue 1 goal to put Monaco in front on 39 minutes but the home side were unable to hold on after Wallace was sent off midway through the second half for a horror tackle on Rachid Ghezzal.