Ligue 1
Four Goal Kylian Mbappe Helps PSG Thrash Lyon
Four goals in 13 second half minutes from Kylian Mbappe helped PSG thrash Lyon at the Parc des Princes.
Neymar had given the Parisians the lead from the penalty spot in the first half. However, the second half was the Kylian Mbappe show as he delivered some clinical finishing which left Lyon reeling.
The victory makes it nine wins out of nine for PSG in Ligue 1 and they are now eight points clear of Lille in second place.
On seven minutes PSG were awarded a penalty. A long hopeful ball found Mbappe who burst inside the penalty area. Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes came flying out and brought down the French striker.
Up stepped Neymar who coolly sent Lopes the wrong way. Lyon looked the more threatening despite going behind but lacked a cutting edge.
On 34 minutes PSG went down to ten men. Defender Presnel Kimpembe slid in with his studs showing on Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele’s ankle.
After initally given a yellow card the referee on the advice of VAR looked at the incident again and having looked at video replays he then showed Kimpembe a straight red card.
Minutes later Lyon should have been level. A great free kick from Memphis Depay found Jason Denayer unmarked at the back post. But the Belgian couldn’t find the target when he should have scored.
Lyon were dealt a blow just before half time. Midfielder Lucas Tousart brought down Mbappe in his own half. Tousart received a second yellow card and joined Kimpembe down the tunnel.
The Kylian Mbappe Show
Lyon started the second half well and should have been level on 48 minutes. Maxwel Cornet hit a shot straight at Gianluigi Buffon from only six yards out.
One of the most bizarre minutes of the season occured seven minutes into the second half.
PSG defender Thiago Silva attempted to clear the ball from his own penalty area. It deflected off Cornet and flew off the post with Buffon beaten in the PSG goal.
Seconds later the Parisians broke quickly with Mbappe driving forward, but his shot struck the base of the post.
Mbappe wasn’t to be denied a minute later. Neymar drove forward inside the box, the ball eventually fell to Mbappe who smashed his shot beyond Lopes.
On 66 minutes the young Frenchman got his second of the game, tapping home a cross from Marquinhos.
There was no stopping Mbappe now and he sealed his hat trick just three minutes later. A blistering counter attack saw Neymar play a perfect through ball for Mbappe.
The 19 year old Frenchman then coolly slotted the ball into the net. Mbappe then made it four goals in just 13 minutes.
Again Neymar was involved having a shot blocked inside the penalty area. The ball fell to Mbappe who made no mistake to cap an incredible second half display.
Lyon struck the crossbar late on with a Memphis Depay chip brilliantly saved by Buffon onto the bar.
However, the day belonged to Mbappe and PSG.
Neymar and Mbappe Devastating Partnership
The dismissal of Presnel Kimpembe forced PSG boss Thomas Tuchel to sacrifice Edinson Cavani so he could bring on another defender.
After the red card of Lyon midfielder Lucas Toussart it allowed Tuchel to play Mbappe and Neymar up front in a central position.
In the second half they linked up with devastating effect. Neymar was involved in three of Mbappe’s goals, with the Brazilian providing some fantastic through balls for Mbappe to latch onto.
With the pace Mbappe has, he is more suited to playing the central striker role and can play off the shoulder and has shown to be a clinical, composed finisher.
It will interesting to see if Tuchel decides to play him there more often with Neymar up top.
In Ligue 1 they are a devastating combination which teams in France will find it hard to stop.
Harsh Lesson For Lyon
Lyon fans will be wondering how they lost 5-0, in particularly after an impressive first half display.
They had more possession in the first half and created the better chances. But individual errors cost them.
First goalkeeper Anthony Lopes made a rash decision coming flying out and bringing down Mbappe for a penalty.
Then an act of stupidly from Lucas Toussart, who already on a booking slid in on Mbappe and picked up a second yellow card to hand the advantage back to PSG.
They were also unlucky hitting the woodwork twice but they had no answer to Mbappe in the second half.
Lyon are a young side and this was a harsh lesson for Bruno Genesio’s men.
Next up they face Nimes at home after the international break. Meanwhile, PSG will look for a perfect ten out of ten as they host Aimens.
Photo credit to Donald Trump via Flickr
