A Kylian Mbappe-less Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 4-1 victory over Lyon thanks to a first-half blitz as they inched closer to the Ligue 1 title.
♦ PSG thrash Lyon 4-1 in Ligue 1
♦ All goals in first half of the game
♦ Mbappe an unused substitute
TELL ME MORE
The Ligue 1 table toppers flew out of the blocks with two goals in the opening six minutes, the first a Nemanja Matic own-goal from close range and the second a Lucas Beraldo tap-in. Goncalo Ramos put the game beyond doubt in the 32nd minute only for Ernest Nuamah to pull a goal back for Lyon five minutes later. Summer signing Ramos grabbed his 11th of the season to finish off a flowing counter-attack just before the break as the hosts eased to victory – without the need to bring on Mbappe – to go 11 points clear of Monaco in second with five games remaining.
THE MVP
Marquinhos: While Ramos got a double, full-back Achraf Hakimi was a threat down the right, and Vitinha oozed class in midfield, the PSG centre-back impressed in defence and became the club’s record appearance maker with 436 – going one clear of the legendary Jean-Marc Pilorget. He got a huge ovation when he left the pitch in the second half, too.
THE BIG LOSER
Nemanja Matic: The former Chelsea and Manchester United man has never been gifted with much pace but he looked a step slow when faced with PSG’s athletic, free-flowing midfield. Was rather unfortunate to concede an own goal via an unlucky deflection but had a tough night overall.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
PSG, who advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a 6-4 aggregate win over Barcelona in the last eight, are away to Lorient in Ligue 1 action on Wednesday night.