Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to eight points with a resounding 3-0 win over rivals Marseille on Sunday.
The victory was inspired by Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, who both played a starring role in the match.
Mbappe became PSG’s joint-record scorer, netting his 200th goal for the club, while Messi hit a career milestone with his 700th senior club career goal.
The game started on a sour note for PSG when defender Presnel Kimpembe was stretchered off the pitch in tears after picking up an injury.
However, this did not deter the visitors as they soon took control of the match. Messi was the architect of the opening goal as he found Mbappe with a pinpoint pass, allowing the Frenchman to finish with ease and put PSG ahead.
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Four minutes later, Mbappe returned the favour, setting up Messi for a tap-in with a low cross that was perfectly placed to evade Marseille’s defense. Messi could have doubled his tally later in the game, but he missed a sitter from just six yards out. Marquinhos also had a chance to add to the scoreline, but his effort went narrowly wide.
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Mbappe, however, made no mistake when he volleyed in Messi’s dinked pass early in the second half to score his 200th goal for PSG and join Edinson Cavani as the club’s all-time leading scorer. It was a memorable night for Christophe Galtier’s men as they eased the pressure that had been building following their underwhelming start to 2023.
The result means PSG now have an eight-point lead over Marseille at the summit of Ligue 1, and they have Mbappe and Messi to thank for their impressive victory. The duo were in sublime form, exchanging assists as they ran riot over their opponents.
Marseille had their chances to get back into the game, with Alexis Sanchez and Vitinha both going close, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was equal to their efforts, making sharp saves to preserve PSG’s clean sheet. The Italian goalkeeper has been in fine form since his arrival at the club and has played a vital role in PSG’s dominance this season.
Overall, it was a dominant performance from PSG, who showed their class and quality to secure a vital victory in the title race.
Mbappe and Messi were the stars of the show, and their partnership could prove to be decisive as PSG look to win their eighth Ligue 1 title in nine years.
