PSG 2-0 Malmo: Angel di Maria opens account in style as winger nets stunning solo effort before Edinson Cavani doubles the lead

• Angel di Maria scored a stunning solo goal in the first half as PSG defeated Malmo in their Champions League clash
• The former Manchester United playmaker went on mazy run down the wing before confidently slotting the ball home
• Edinson Cavani, who was linked with a summer move to Arsenal, headed home on 61 minutes to double the lead
• It was an unforgettable night for Zlatan Ibrahimovic - who began his professional career with Tuesday's opponents

By Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press

Published: 15:36 EST, 15 September 2015 | Updated: 04:10 EST, 16 September 2015

Angel di Maria opened his account in style and Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up Edinson Cavani with a touch of brilliance for the other as Paris Saint-Germain begun their Champions League campaign with a comfortable win over Swedish side Malmo in Group A on Tuesday.

Di Maria, starting just his second game since joining from Manchester United, cut inside from the right in the fourth minute and steered the ball imperiously into the left corner.

Returning to the line-up after shaking off an abdominal injury, Ibrahimovic looked short on fitness and lacked his usual assurance in front of goal against the club where the Swede started his career in 1999.

Angel di Maria opened his Paris Saint-Germain account in style as the Argentina star scored a stunning solo goal in the first half

The former Manchester United playmaker celebrates his first goal for the Ligue 1 giants by performing his trademark celebration

The Argentina international is mobbed by his new team-mates after scoring the opener in their Champions League clash with Malmo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - who was facing his boyhood club - was among the players to celebrate Di Maria's first-half opener

Edinson Cavani, who was linked with a summer move to Premier League side Arsenal, doubled the hosts' lead in the 61st minute

Paris Saint-Germain striker Cavani celebrates his side's second goal during their Champions League clash at Parc des Princes

Sweden star Ibrahimovic, who began his professional career with his hometown club in 1999, strikes the ball during the first half

Instead, he emphatically turned provider in the 61st minute, running onto a left-wing cross from Maxwell and acrobatically back-heeling the ball up to Cavani, who nodded down past goalkeeper Johan Wiland despite being off balance.

Malmo chose a defensive formation with three central defenders and five midfielders, but it backfired as PSG forced a corner straight away and scored on the next attack.

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti collected the ball and clipped a floating pass behind the left back to pick out Di Maria, who controlled it well with his right foot and then cut inside before expertly curling the ball into the opposite corner with his left.

Ibrahimovic missed two chances in quick succession as PSG overwhelmed Malmo's creaking defense.

First, he headed over when well placed in the 15th and two minutes later failed to properly test Wiland with a low shot after sprinting into the penalty area, although slightly wide on the right.

Di Maria looked far sharper and, in the 33rd minute, opened his left foot again to hit a curling effort just wide of the left post.

Malmo almost punished PSG a minute later when striker Nikola Djurdjic found space inside the area and drilled a low shot past the right post with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp beaten.

Ibrahimovic seemed desperate to score and, after debating for a few seconds with Di Maria as to who should take a free kick, curled it disappointingly over the crossbar in the 42nd.

Straight from the restart, Di Maria charged forward and switched the ball to Cavani on the left, but the pass was slightly behind the Uruguay striker, who scooped his shot way over. 

The PSG striker and Italy international Marco Verratti react during their Champions League group stage clash on Tuesday

Ibrahimovic (right), who left Malmo for Dutch giants Ajax in 2001, watches on as his attempt at goal is easily saved

Verratti goes on the attack for Ligue 1 giants PSG but is closely followed by Malmo's Serbian forward Nikola Djurdjic

Our fantastic MATCH ZONE shows Di Maria's fine solo goal - click here for more Champions League analysis

Ibrahimovic then wasted another opportunity, hesitating with the ball at this feet on the edge of the area, and the far more dynamic Di Maria forced Wiland into a leaping save as PSG surged forward. 

Having weathered serious pressure, Malmo began to push forward more and enjoyed a brief spell of possession around the PSG box. It was a brief respite and, after Maxwell had a shot saved, Ibrahimovic finally found some inspiration.

That spurred PSG on, and Wiland kept the score down when he palmed away another effort from Cavani moments later and then pushed a close-range header from David Luiz against the post.

After Di Maria went off to an ovation from the Parc des Princes crowd, substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi was denied by Wiland near the end.

Lavezzi then had a goal disallowed in injury time, with Cavani ruled to have strayed offside.

Former Chelsea defender David Luiz challenges Malmo's Markus Rosenberg (left) and receives a whack in the face

Uruguay forward Cavani falls to the floor following a challenge by Swedish centre-back Rasmus Bengtsson (left)

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp easily collects the ball during his side's victory over Swedish side Malmo

Returning to line-up after shaking off an injury, Ibrahimovic looked short on fitness and lacked his usual assurance in front of goal

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