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Edinson Cavani helps PSG cruise by Nice without Neymar

Edinson Cavani starred in Neymar's absence, scoring twice and setting up a third as Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 3-0 win over Nice on Friday night.

PSG were playing without the suspended Neymar after the Brazilian was sent off last weekend against Marseille, but it didn't take long for the hosts to take the lead at the Parc des Princes.

Cavani scored in the third minute, sending home Angel Di Maria's cross from a set piece with a diving header.

The PSG duo hooked up again after the half-hour mark, as Di Maria played a delightful chip into the box, and Cavani got to it ahead of Nice keeper Walter Benitez before tapping it over the goal line.

It was 3-0 seven minutes into the second half when Cavani headed a cross back across the six-yard box, and Nice defender Dante turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Dani Alves.

PSG saw out the victory as goalkeeper Alphonse Areola did not have to make a save against Mario Balotelli's side until second-half stoppage time.

Nice finished the game with 10 men when their third and final substitute Allan Saint-Maximin pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury just six minutes after coming on.