Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two goals as Paris Saint Germain thrashed Caen 6-0 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday to eclipse his season best of 32 goals.
The Swedish forward took out his frustration of the Champions League quarter final exit at the hands of Manchester City on the modest French side who had no answers to the attacking prowess of the capital club.
Ibrahimovic, the league top-scorer, slotted home with a low shot past goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre early on and added another in the second half. He’s the first player to score more than 30 in a season in France’s top division since Carlos Bianchi scored 37 in 1977-78.
His previous best ever goal return in a single season was 31 strikes during the 2011/12 for AC Milan before his move to the French league the next season.
Blaise Matuidi, Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria and Maxwell scored PSG’s other goals.
Ibrahimovic, who missed a first-leg penalty against City and failed to make an impact in the return leg, was singled out for PSG’s Champions League defeat.
His good showing against Caen — a team that managed only four points from its last six games — is likely to give more arguments to his detractors, who claim he scores when the pressure is off and struggles against big teams.
PSG, which sealed a fourth straight league title with a record eight games to spare last month, can still replicate the domestic treble it achieved last season. PSG plays in the League Cup final against Lille on April 23, and travels to Lorient next week in the French Cup semi-finals.
After being criticised for his decision to play an untried 3-5-2 formation at Manchester City, manager Laurent Blanc was booed by PSG fans when his name was announced by the stadium’s speaker.
Blanc switched back to a more conventional 4-3-3 and made defensive changes, giving reserve keeper Salvatore Sirigu a start in place of Kevin Trapp behind a four-back line of Gregory Van der Wiel, Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos, and Layvin Kurzawa.
Despite his poor showing against City, Ibrahimovic spearheaded a three-man attack, flanked by Cavani and Lucas.
