Beckham plays cameo role in Zlatan show as PSG recover from a goal down to beat struggling Nancy
David Beckham had to make do with a 17 minute cameo appearance from the substitutes bench as it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic who once again stole the show for Paris St Germain.
The Swede scored his sixth Ligue 1 brace this season as Paris St Germain recovered to win 2-1 at home to strugglers AS Nancy and move five points clear at the top.
PSG, who have lost to lowly Stade Reims and Sochaux in recent weeks, seemed set for another shock defeat when Benjamin Moukandjo deservedly put the visitors ahead in the 36th minute.
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Late entrance: David Beckham replaces Paris Saint-Germain's Italian midfielder Marco Verratti
However, PSG then took advantage of Nancy's mistakes as Ibrahimovic pounced twice in four minutes around the hour mark to take his league total to 24 goals.
PSG have 57 points from 28 games ahead of Olympique Lyon who host Olympique Marseille, in third on 49, on Sunday.
The Qatari-backed club, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 18 years this week after getting past Valencia, looked far less comfortable against second-bottom Nancy, who are six points from the safety zone.
Start turn: But it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic who stole the show with two goals after PSG had been behind
Trademark: Despite his limited playing time, Becks manages to deliver a trademark corner
'We know that it's a tough league and that it's hard too to play as often as we have done,' goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu told French channel Canal Plus.
'If everything was done already, the sport would not be so great. We have to write our own history,' he added when asked why his team has struggled against unfancied opponents.
Although Sweden striker Ibrahimovic and Italy midfielder Marco Verratti were back after missing the 1-1 Champions League draw with Valencia through suspension, PSG produced a mediocre first half and were booed off at halftime.
Nancy almost opened the scoring in the 27th but Yassine Jebbour's curling strike was parried on to the post by Sirigu.
The Italy reserve keeper then saved Moukandjo's low strike nine minutes later but could not prevent the forward heading the loose ball home to give the visitors a surprise lead.
PSG's France winger Jeremy Menez replaced the ineffective Javier Pastore after the break and proved decisive when he set up Ibrahimovic in the area to equalise after centre back Sebastien Puygrenier had chested the ball into his path.
Four minutes later, the Swede ran through on goal from Verratti's neat long pass and put the ball into an empty net as goalkeeper Damien Gregorini failed to clear.
David Beckham came off the bench for the last few minutes but PSG continued to labour and were lucky to escape when Florian Zitte's diverted effort hit the woodwork with three minutes to go in the day's early kickoff.
Later on Saturday, 2011 champions Lille can climb to fifth if they win at mid-table neighbours Valenciennes.
Challenge: Beckham wins the ball from from Nancy midfielder Salif Sane
Making an exit: Beckham claps the Parc des Princes faithful
VIDEO: Watch highlights here
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