Ibrahimovic stars again as PSG routs Bastia 4-0

PARIS (AP) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued his superb scoring form with another two goals as Paris Saint-Germain capped off a fine week by crushing Corsican side Bastia 4-0 on Saturday to climb up to third place in the French league.

The Sweden striker, who scored in PSG's 4-1 thrashing of Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday, has seven league goals in five games since joining from AC Milan.

"I'm getting better and better," said Ibrahimovic, Serie A's top scorer last season with 28 goals. "I played well, but when the team is playing well, then I play well."

Ibrahimovic also set up the first goal for winger Jeremy Menez and was involved in the buildup to PSG's other goal, scored by midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

"Just because we won 4-0 doesn't mean it's easy," Ibrahimovic said. "You have to go on the field and do your job, you are playing away and you can hear their supporters."

Big-spending PSG moved up to third on goal difference from Lorient after it drew 1-1 at home to Nice.

"It's a good win for our confidence and in terms of the league table," PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Lorient looked to be heading for defeat until striker Kevin Monnet-Paquet equalized in the 89th minute, after veteran midfielder Camel Meriem put the visitors ahead late in the first half.

On Sunday, French leader Marseille looks to maintain its perfect start to the season when it hosts Evian.

PSG took the lead after just six minutes, when Nene's free kick from the left found Ibrahimovic on the right and he flicked the ball straight back across goal to give Menez an easy finish from close range.

Ibrahimovic punished Bastia's sloppy defending in the 40th when he ran onto Italian midfielder Marco Verratti's superbly weighted pass through the middle and clipped the ball over Brazilian goalkeeper Novaes.

Ibrahimovic was shown the yellow card just before the break when he was involved in a running argument with Bastia's Gael Angoula, although it seemed to amuse Ibrahimovic when he was booked.

Brazilian winger Nene, PSG's top scorer last season with 21 goals, created the next goal in the 72nd, receiving a quick pass from Ibrahimovic and sending the ball perfectly into the path of Matuidi, who finished confidently.

Bastia staged a mini-comeback as PSG goalie Salvatore Sirigu made two good saves from Florian Thauvin and Toifilou Maoulida.

But the gulf between the teams was underlined by the fourth goal, when Nene picked out Ibrahimovic with a brilliant pass behind the defense for the Sweden striker to control the ball deftly, and then guide it through the legs of Novaes with assurance.

"When you play at the highest level you don't need many chances, and PSG have players like that," Bastia midfielder Jerome Rothen said.

In Saturday's other games, it was: Brest 2, Valenciennes 1; Reims 2, Nancy 0; Sochaux 3, Troyes 1, and Toulouse 2, Rennes 2.

Newly promoted Reims is just two points behind Lorient and PSG after Gaetan Courtet's early goal and Diego Rigonato's penalty sealed a comfortable win.

Seventh-placed Toulouse had goalkeeper Ali Ahamada to thank for salvaging a draw as he headed home from a corner five minutes into injury time. Wissam Ben Yedder got Toulouse's other goal, while winger Jonathan Pitroipa and striker Mevlut Erding scored for struggling Rennes, which is in the relegation zone.

Brest moved up to eighth spot, with Jonathan Ayite and Eden Ben Basat scoring.

Sochaux jumped out of the relegation zone and into 13th place with its second straight win as Sebastien Roudet, Thierry Doubai and Cedric Bakambu got the goals.

In Sunday's other matches, Bordeaux hosts Ajaccio and Lille plays Lyon.

French champion Montpellier drew 1-1 at home to Saint-Etienne on Friday.