Paris Saint-Germain kicked-off their 2013-14 UEFA Champions League campaign with an impressive 4-1 victory over Greek League Champions Olympiakos.
In front of more than 31 thousand spectators at Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus, the home side made a great start to the game, hitting the bar in the first minute with a powerful long range effort from Vladimir Weiss.
The home fans expected their side to take the lead as they continued to dominate the game with Weiss going close with another low drive from outside the box few minutes later, and Spanish midfielder David Fuster hitting the post with an excellent volley in the 15thminute.
But four minutes later, the Ligue 1 champions took a surprise lead against the run of play thanks to a great run forward by the left back Maxwell and a brilliant through ball from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, that ended with an easy finish from Edinson Cavani.
The lead only lasted for six minutes as Weiss leveled the score with a wonder goal. The 23-year-old Slovakia international received the ball on the right flank and used his brilliant skill to get past two PSG defenders before putting the ball in the back of the net with the help of a slight deflection.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc made a crucial change at the break, with Argentine winger Ezequiel Lavezzi taking the place of Brazilian Lucas Moura.
The Parisians started to take control of the game and threatened the Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto on more than one occasion, till the 59th minute that saw them retaining the lead through Tiagho Motta’s near post header after a perfect corner from Lavezzi.
Poor defending by the Greeks during set pieces made the difference between the two sides, and the visitors’ lead was doubled five minutes later with another header from Motta and another corner from Lavezzi, in what looked like a replay of the second goal.
Ibrahimovic won a penalty in the 73rd minute, but a brilliant double save from Roberto prevented the Sweden international from getting on the score sheet.
Motta turned the provider in the last goal of the game, as Marquinhos headed in his corner past Roberto, to complete a miserable night for the Greeks and ensure his team finishing the day on top of the group ahead of Benfica on goal difference.
The Portuguese side defeated Belgian Champions Anderlecht 2-0 in the other Group C game in Lisbon, thanks to goals from Filip Duricic and Luisao.
The next round of matches on October 2nd will see PSG hosting Benfica at Parc des Princes, as Olympiakos travel to Belgium to face Anderlecht.