PSG 3-1 Lens: Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi combine to help score three goals in nine minutes as the leaders breeze past their nearest rivals at the top of Ligue 1
- PSG extend their lead at top of the Ligue 1 table to nine points after latest win
- Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi both got on the scoresheet in Paris
- While Lens limped to a disappointing defeat after torrid first-half showing
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi scored first-half goals as Paris St Germain beat 10-man Lens 3-1 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday to charge nine points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
Lens, still second but with their challenge badly dented, had Salis Abdul Samed shown a straight red card in the 19th minute for a tackle that missed the ball but caught Achraf Hakimi on the ankle.
PSG’s response was swift, the champions seizing the advantage to smash in three goals in a nine-minute spree.
France striker Mbappe made the breakthrough in the 31st minute when he swivelled and hit a pass from Vitinha in off the post.
The goal made him PSG’s all-time record league scorer, taking his tally to 139 and one more than Edinson Cavani managed.
Kylian Mbappe (right) opened the scoring at the Parc des Princes on Saturday evening
Lionel Messi (right) rounded off a sensational nine minutes of play to help PSG to victory
Lens players were unable to make the most of the opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table
Vitinha made it 2-0 six minutes later with a long-range screamer that left Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba with no time to react.
Messi then got in on the act in the 40th minute after Mbappe backheeled the Argentine through to fire in at a tight angle and put PSG 3-0 up at the break.
Lens hit back in the second half with a consolation goal from the penalty spot on the hour, Polish winger Przemyslaw Frankowski calmly stepping up to send Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.