A spectacular hat-trick from Kylian Mbappé allowed Paris Saint-Germain to return to victory on Sunday March 17 for the 26th day of Ligue 1 in Montpellier (6-2), widening the lead a little further.
The Parisians finally win after three draws against Rennes (1-1), Monaco (0-0) and Reims (2-2). They are now twelve points ahead of Brest and thirteen over Monaco, their pursuers who both conceded a draw this weekend. Montpellier is 14th with 26 points, just one ahead of first-placed Nantes.
They seem far away, the turbulence linked to the management of Kylian Mbappé, whose coach Luis Enrique has cut back on playing time in the championship since he announced his departure this summer to his leaders – officially to “get used to playing » without him.
This time, the Spanish technician started his superstar and made him play the entire match. He did not regret it: Mbappé, captain in the absence of Marquinhos, carried his team for his 200th match with PSG in Ligue 1.
He first scored a goal from an impossible angle, served by his friend Randal Kolo Muani (22nd, 2-0), perhaps taking advantage of the inexperience of goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud, who replaced the absent Benjamin Lecomte.
Then, while Paris had conceded two goals before half-time and saw Montpellier come back to 2-2 in an overheated Moisson stadium, Kylian Mbappé set the record straight with a splendid strike from outside the surface (50?). Vitinha, precise from afar (14th), and Kang-in Lee, opportunistic and spontaneous (53rd) also showed a certain dexterity in the exercise to score.
Mbappé completed his masterpiece of the match with an unstoppable strike after nicely controlling a deep pass from Vitinha (63rd), his 250th goal with the capital club.
Radiant, number 7 took the ball from the cages and sent it to the stands before posing like a statue in front of the Parisian supporters, as if to remind us that he is unbeatable in this team.
“Mbappé was exceptional, we have to take advantage of it as much as we can,” said Luis Enrique, before warning: “When we can no longer take advantage of him we will have to raise our level. »
Paris erratic despite the big victory
Still, it hasn’t been a perfect night for Paris and, as their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona approaches in April, Luis Enrique has his work cut out for him. As usual this season, the Parisians were erratic defensively, conceding two goals at the end of the first half.
First when Danilo failed to cut a cross and instead deflected it towards an ideal position for a header from Arnaud Nordin (30th). The Portuguese defender, very solid since Milan Skriniar’s injury, also faltered on his poorly pressed back pass towards Gianluigi Donnarumma, forced to provoke a penalty. The captain and darling of Montpellier Téji Savanier was happy to transform it into the top corner (45? 2), despite the long protests of the goalkeeper and captain Mbappé.
But not enough to disturb PSG, who crushed the premises at the end of the match with a strong strike from close range (89th) from the side Nuno Mendes, who has been gaining strength since his return from injury.
