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Troyes 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Mbappe on target as Ligue 1 leaders restore six-point advantage

Troyes 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Mbappe on target as Ligue 1 leaders restore six-point advantage

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Paris Saint-Germain were without Lionel Messi at Troyes on Sunday, but they made light of his absence as Kylian Mbappe scored in a 3-1 win.

Kylian Mbappe was joined on the scoresheet by Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz as Paris Saint-Germain put a tumultuous week behind them with a 3-1 win at Troyes, restoring their six-point lead at the Ligue 1 summit. 

After a chaotic few days in which PSG suspended Lionel Messi over an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia and admonished fans for protesting outside Neymar's home, the champions were in full control at Stade de l'Aube.

Mbappe headed an early opener from almost directly underneath the crossbar, before Vitinha bundled home a second after the break.

Xavier Chavalerin's late header halved the arrears, but Fabian fired off the post and in to seal PSG's victory, re-establishing their six-point cushion to closest challengers Lens.

Hugo Ekitike prodded into the side netting as PSG sought a fast start and the Ligue 1 leaders went ahead after just eight minutes, Mbappe nodding in from close range after Vitinha's cross deflected against the crossbar.

A brief stoppage followed as supporters threw flares onto the pitch, with Fabian drawing two smart saves from Gauthier Gallon when play resumed.

Danilo Pereira headed narrowly over as PSG dominated possession, while Gianluigi Donnarumma tipped Mama Balde's diving header wide when Troyes finally threatened on the stroke of half-time. 

Gallon had to remain alert to keep Troyes in the contest after the restart, pushing Ekitike's low drive away before making himself big to deny Marco Verratti from a tight angle.

PSG had the two-goal lead they deserved after 59 minutes, though there was a hint of fortune about Vitinha's strike as the ball ricocheted in off his shin after Gallon saved his header.

Chavalerin appeared to have set up a grandstand finish when he nodded home with seven minutes left, but Fabian went up the other end and curled in from the edge of the area, sealing the points.

What does it mean? Parisians shut out the noise

PSG were in desperate need of a victory on Sunday, with high-profile incidents involving Messi and Neymar – as well as a run of three defeats in their last six league games – piling on the pressure.

Despite the absence of some star names, Christophe Galtier's men were rarely troubled as they stretched Troyes' winless home run in Ligue 1 to 15 games (drawn nine, lost six) – the longest current streak in Europe's top five leagues.

Mbappe leads the way

Mbappe has finished as Ligue 1's top goalscorer in each of the previous four seasons, sharing the prize with Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder in the incomplete 2019-20 campaign.

While his fellow attacking superstars Messi and Neymar attract the ire of PSG's supporters, Mbappe is doing his hopes of topping the scoring charts no harm with a strong run of form.

Mbappe has now scored in four successive Ligue 1 matches with his total of 24 goals this term only matched by Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette, who scored four in a 5-4 win over Montpellier on Sunday.

Vitinha maintains hot streak

Having only contributed one assist in his first 28 Ligue 1 games for PSG, Vitinha has been involved in three goals in his last four outings in the competition (two goals, one assist).

While Vitinha's goal here was fortuitous, no PSG player bettered his tally of three shots on target, and only Marco Verratti (six) created more than his four chances during an all-action display.

Key Opta facts

  • PSG have scored in 30 of their 34 Ligue 1 games this season, no team has done so more often in the French top flight
  • Kylian Mbappe has been directly involved in six goals in his last four Ligue 1 appearances (five goals, one assist)
  • Troyes have failed to win in their last 17 Ligue 1 games, last going on a longer winless streak between May 2013 and January 2016 (22 games)
  • PSG attempted 31 shots in this game, the joint-highest total for any team in a single Ligue 1 match this season

What's next?

PSG will hope to take another step towards retaining their title when they host AC Ajaccio on Saturday, while lowly Troyes could see their relegation sealed when they visit Rennes the following day.

Troyes 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Mbappe on target as Ligue 1 leaders restore six-point advantage

Paris Saint-Germain were without Lionel Messi at Troyes on Sunday, but they made light of his absence as Kylian Mbappe scored in a 3-1 win.

Kylian Mbappe was joined on the scoresheet by Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz as Paris Saint-Germain put a tumultuous week behind them with a 3-1 win at Troyes, restoring their six-point lead at the Ligue 1 summit. 

After a chaotic few days in which PSG suspended Lionel Messi over an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia and admonished fans for protesting outside Neymar's home, the champions were in full control at Stade de l'Aube.

Mbappe headed an early opener from almost directly underneath the crossbar, before Vitinha bundled home a second after the break.

Xavier Chavalerin's late header halved the arrears, but Fabian fired off the post and in to seal PSG's victory, re-establishing their six-point cushion to closest challengers Lens.

Hugo Ekitike prodded into the side netting as PSG sought a fast start and the Ligue 1 leaders went ahead after just eight minutes, Mbappe nodding in from close range after Vitinha's cross deflected against the crossbar.

A brief stoppage followed as supporters threw flares onto the pitch, with Fabian drawing two smart saves from Gauthier Gallon when play resumed.

Danilo Pereira headed narrowly over as PSG dominated possession, while Gianluigi Donnarumma tipped Mama Balde's diving header wide when Troyes finally threatened on the stroke of half-time. 

Gallon had to remain alert to keep Troyes in the contest after the restart, pushing Ekitike's low drive away before making himself big to deny Marco Verratti from a tight angle.

PSG had the two-goal lead they deserved after 59 minutes, though there was a hint of fortune about Vitinha's strike as the ball ricocheted in off his shin after Gallon saved his header.

Chavalerin appeared to have set up a grandstand finish when he nodded home with seven minutes left, but Fabian went up the other end and curled in from the edge of the area, sealing the points.

What does it mean? Parisians shut out the noise

PSG were in desperate need of a victory on Sunday, with high-profile incidents involving Messi and Neymar – as well as a run of three defeats in their last six league games – piling on the pressure.

Despite the absence of some star names, Christophe Galtier's men were rarely troubled as they stretched Troyes' winless home run in Ligue 1 to 15 games (drawn nine, lost six) – the longest current streak in Europe's top five leagues.

Mbappe leads the way

Mbappe has finished as Ligue 1's top goalscorer in each of the previous four seasons, sharing the prize with Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder in the incomplete 2019-20 campaign.

While his fellow attacking superstars Messi and Neymar attract the ire of PSG's supporters, Mbappe is doing his hopes of topping the scoring charts no harm with a strong run of form.

Mbappe has now scored in four successive Ligue 1 matches with his total of 24 goals this term only matched by Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette, who scored four in a 5-4 win over Montpellier on Sunday.

Vitinha maintains hot streak

Having only contributed one assist in his first 28 Ligue 1 games for PSG, Vitinha has been involved in three goals in his last four outings in the competition (two goals, one assist).

While Vitinha's goal here was fortuitous, no PSG player bettered his tally of three shots on target, and only Marco Verratti (six) created more than his four chances during an all-action display.

Key Opta facts

  • PSG have scored in 30 of their 34 Ligue 1 games this season, no team has done so more often in the French top flight
  • Kylian Mbappe has been directly involved in six goals in his last four Ligue 1 appearances (five goals, one assist)
  • Troyes have failed to win in their last 17 Ligue 1 games, last going on a longer winless streak between May 2013 and January 2016 (22 games)
  • PSG attempted 31 shots in this game, the joint-highest total for any team in a single Ligue 1 match this season

What's next?

PSG will hope to take another step towards retaining their title when they host AC Ajaccio on Saturday, while lowly Troyes could see their relegation sealed when they visit Rennes the following day.

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