The PSG star scored twice in Ligue 1 victory
Paris Saint Germain’s Vitinha celebrates with Kylian Mbappe (L) after scoringYOAN VALATEFE
Kylian Mbappe enjoyed a birthday to remember as Paris Saint-Germain edged past Metz with a 3-1 win to go seven points clear at the top of Ligue 1 on Wednesday night.
The France international, who turned 25 on December 20, proved he is in a league of his own with his 17th and 18th goals of the domestic campaign.
PSG didn’t have everything their own way at Parc des Princes, however, as they were forced to wait until the second half to produce their best football in Paris.
Luis Enrique’s side managed 496 passes in the first half and 80 per cent possession, underlining their territorial dominance. But the Metz goal was largely untroubled as Mbappe and his team-mates failed to muster much of an attacking threat, with only three shots in the entire first half.
PSG’s Kylian Mbappe (L) and Metz’s goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja (R) in actionYOAN VALATEFE
PSG’s best opportunity of the half saw Mbappe and Vitinha denied within seconds of each other by some valiant defending from Metz’s defenders, before goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja cleared the danger.
In fact, the biggest chance of the half arrived courtesy of a PSG player – but not at the right end of the pitch. Danilo Pereira’s blushes were spared by the woodwork when the Portuguese nearly diverted Kevin van den Kerkhof’s cross into his own net, only for it to bounce off the post and out.
Mbappe had help
Mbappe had scored 16 goals heading into this game, twice as many as the next highest scorer in Ligue 1. But for once, the goalscoring burden didn’t fall on him as Vitinha put the hosts ahead four minutes after the break.
Lee Kang-in whipped in a dangerous cross looking for Randal Kolo Muani and when the Frenchman missed his chance to connect, the ball fell to Vitinha. Unlike his team-mate, the Portuguese made no mistake, lashing his effort past Oukidja at the far post to break the deadlock.
Kylian Mbappe, center, challenges Metz’s Kevin N’Doram, left, and Joseph N’Duquidi, rightMichel EulerAP
It was then Mbappe’s turn to get on the scoresheet on the hour mark, taking the ball from Vitinha and cutting inside from the left before curling one in off the underside of the bar.
Metz pulled one back through Matthieu Udiol after he headed home past Gianluigi Donnarumma from a corner, before Mbappe made sure of the points with his second of the night after capitalising on a poor backpass.
Mbappe is widely expected to leave for the Santiago Bernabeu on a free transfer in 2024, but for now, the forward is enjoying what could be his farewell tour by destroying the opposition one by one.