Cavani hat-trick fires PSG past Monaco

Edinson Cavani has scored a hat-trick in Paris Saint-Germain's 4-0 drubbing of hapless Monaco in the France's Ligue 1.

The Uruguayan striker twice needed assistance from the video assistant referee (VAR) at the Stade Louis II as PSG cruised to their 13th straight league win.

The crushing victory, which also featured a goal from Neymar, gave the champions a maximum 39-point haul.

It left Thierry Henry still searching for his first win as coach of Monaco, who are only ahead of bottom side Guingamp on goal difference with both on seven points.

Cavani gave the visitors the lead in the fourth minute, perfectly timing his run to stab home a cross-shot from Neymar with the goal only awarded after a video review to check that he was onside.

He was on target again for the champions seven minutes later, sliding in to send Moussa Diaby's pass bouncing over the line, and after another referral to VAR, referee Ruddy Buquet pointed to the centre circle as the goal was confirmed.

There were no questions about his third, though, as he popped up at the far post to again stab the ball home from close range, completing his hat-trick eight minutes into the second half.

Neymar piled the misery on Monaco by slamming home a 64th-minute penalty after Kylian Mbappe was brought down in the box by Djibril Sidibe.

VAR also came to Monaco's rescue on two occasions, ruling out efforts by Julian Draxler and Mbappe for offside, but they were completely outclassed.

Already hit by a slew of injuries that have made Henry's managerial debut such a trial, Monaco's bad luck was summed up when Nacer Chadli was injured early on, with his replacement Jordi Mboula substituted in the second half after suffering a hamstring injury.

Earlier on Sunday, Dijon lost 2-0 at Marseille to drop into the bottom three.

Lucas Ocampos and Adil Rami strick for Marseille who moved up to sixth.

Caen battled to a scoreless draw at Bordeaux to climb out of the drop zone while Rennes and Nantes drew 1-1.