Ibrahimovic stars as PSG crush Dinamo Zagreb

Zlatan Ibrahimovic notched up a superb four assists as Paris Saint-Germain secured an emphatic 4-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in Group A of the Champions League.

The Swede set up the opener for Brazilian defender Alex to volley home on 16 minutes in what proved to be a first half of few chances.

But the former Milan star helped his team step up a level after the break and showed sublime skill to tee up two goals in four minutes just past the hour mark.

First Blaise Matuidi tucked home from eight yards before Jeremy Menez collected a pass and slalomed into the area to coolly convert.

Ibrahimovic then turned provider once again 10 minutes from time, giving Guillaume Hoarau the chance to round off a resounding triumph.

The result means Carlo Ancelotti's team are now within touching distance of the last 16 and leaves Zagreb pointless after suffering a 10th straight loss in the Champions League.

The visitors arrived in the French capital determined to get off the mark and show that there was more to Group A than meets the eye.

The Croatian champions have endured some tough times in the Champions League in the last couple of years and few outside their homeland were predicting anything other than a French win.

However, boss Ante Cacic insisted his side were not there merely to act as "tourists" and revealed a game-plan that involved looking to frustrate the hosts in the early exchanges.

It seemed to be working too, as they almost stole ahead on 10 minutes when left-back Josip Pivaric powered into the PSG box and fizzed a shot just wide.

It was a miss they were left to rue six minutes later when the hosts grabbed the lead against the run of play.

A short corner on the left caught the away side napping, allowing Alex to ghost in at the near post and hook a volley into the corner.

If the home support were hoping the goal would spark some life into their team, they would be disappointed.

There was a real lack of urgency to PSG's play, although they still managed to manufacture a couple of openings prior to the interval with Adrien Rabiot firing just over before Ivan Kelava denied Thiago Silva with a magnificent point-blank save.

Ancelotti must have read the riot act at the break because his team were suddenly a different proposition with Ibrahimovic hitting top form.

First he unlocked the defence to tee up Matuidi for a second goal on 61 minutes before he laid on another with a great pass for Menez to add a killer third soon after.

And he capped a sensational second 45 minutes with a fourth assist 10 minutes from time.

The towering forward slipped when he was presented with a sight of goal but showed magnificent composure to pick out Hoarau, who gleefully tapped home.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Paris St Germain: The Swede had a subdued first half but exploded into life after the interval and provided all four goals courtesy of some trademark brilliance.

PSG: Sirigu 6, Thiago Silva 6, Alex 7, Maxwell 6, Jallet (c) 6, Sissoko 6, Menez 7, Matuidi 7, Rabiot 6, Lavezzi 5, Ibrahimovic 9. Subs: Verratti 6, Pastore 6, Hoarau 6.

DINAMO ZAGREB: Kelava (c) 7, Puljic 6, Simunic 6, Vrsaljko 6, Vida 6, Ademi 6, Mateo Kovacic 6, Sammir 5, Pivaric 6, Brozovic 6, Rukavina 5. Subs: Cop 6, Calello 5, Halilovic 5.