PSG cruise into League Cup quarters

Paris Saint-Germain brushed off the absence of Neymar to ease into the French League Cup quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory at Strasbourg Wednesday. The Ligue 1 leader gained a measure of revenge for their shock 2-1 league defeat by Strasbourg less than a fortnight ago as they started their bid for a fifth straight League Cup title. PSG will take on Amiens in the last eight, after the newly-promoted top-flight club edged out second-tier Tours 2-1. With Neymar having only just returned from a visit to his native Brazil, Unai Emery opted to play Edinson Cavani up front on his own with Kylian Mbappe on the bench. Home hope of a repeat performance for Strasbourg were dashed in only the 12th minute, as Yoann Salmier sliced Angel di Maria's cross into his own net.

Revenge is sweet for Paris as they see off Strasbourg in the French League Cup - 11 days after their shock Ligue 1 loss in Alsace. pic.twitter.com/r3so5UOVmQ

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 13, 2017

Argentina international Di Maria made it two midway through the first half, capitalising on a goalkeeping error by Alexandre Oukidja to slot in his fourth goal of the season. But Strasbourg pulled one back before half-time against the run of play as midfielder Jeremy Grimm, who has been with the club throughout their rise from the third tier, slotted into the corner. The host battled hard in the second period but their resistance was finally ended when Thomas Meunier crossed for fellow full-back Dani Alves to tap in from close range. German international Julian Draxler impressed in a three-man attacking midfield alongside Di Maria and Javier Pastore, and drilled in to end a nine-game goal drought for club and country. Jeremy Blayac came off the bench to score a late consolation for Strasbourg, but PSG had long since secured their place in the quarters.

Round of 16 - @RCSA vs. @PSG_English - Line-up ! pic.twitter.com/TAInVExRBS

— Ligue1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 13, 2017

Elsewhere, a much-changed Lyon were stunned 4-1 at Montpellier despite taking a 10th-minute lead through teenager Myziane Maolida, as Souleymane Camara scored twice for the host. Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale was the hero as Lucien Favre's men edged past managerless Lille on penalties after Mario Balotelli had rescued the a 1-1 draw for the visitor. Monaco will be Nice's last-eight opponent, after the principality outfit saw off Caen Tuesday. Rennes beat Marseille in a penalty shootout after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Roazhon Park, where Kostas Mitroglou and Valere Germain scored for the visitor, but to no avail.

GOOOOOOL de @FinallyMario ( 1- 1) ! #LOSCOGCN pic.twitter.com/EL571kACtr

— Ligue 1 Português (@Ligue1_POR) December 13, 2017

RESULTS Rennes 2 (Andre 23, Khazri 57) Marseille 2 (Mitroglou 13, Germain 81) Rennes won 4-3 on penalties Strasbourg 2 (Grimm 36, Blayac 88) PSG 4 (Salmier 13-og, Di Maria 25, Alves 62, Draxler 78) Lille 1 (Araujo 7) Nice 1 (Balotelli 58) Nice won 3-2 on penalties Amiens 2 (Kolta 16, Bourgaud 45+1) Tours 1 (Mancini 90) Montpellier 4 (Camara 17, 22, Hilton 45+2, Berigaud 86-P) Lyon 1 (Maolida 10)   QUARTER-FINAL DRAW Angers v Montpellier, Amiens v PSG, Nice v Monaco, Rennes v Toulouse