PSG return to winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Montpellier. Messi scored the game’s opening goal barely six minutes into the contest, then doubled the lead with a beautiful finish into an empty net.
Di Maria’s deflected attempt put the game out of reach at halftime, although Mbappe’s shot hit the crossbar.
The Frenchman, who also assisted on both Messi goals, was outstanding and scored from the penalty spot to cap off a decisive victory for the French champions.
Starting lineup:
MONTPELLIER STARTING XI (3-4-1-2): Dimitriy Bertaud; Nicolas Cozza, Thuler, Maxime Esteve; Arnaud Souquet, Jordan Ferri, Joris Chotard, Mihailo Ristic; Florent Mollet; Sacha Delaye, Stephy Mavididi.
MONTPELLIER SUBS: Ambroise Oyongo, Valere Germain, Leo Leroy, Junior Sambia, Pedro Mendes, Matis Carvalho, Nicholas Gioacchini.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN STARTING XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Thilo Kehrer, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Juan Bernat; Ander Herrera, Georginio Wijnaldum, Marco Verratti; Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBS: Keylor Navas, Danilo Pereira, Edouard Michut, Eric Ebimbe, Nuno Mendes, Ismael Gharbi, Achraf Hakimi, Djeidi Gassama, Xavi Simons.
Goals:
MESSI SCORES! The corner is taken short by PSG and worked to Mbappe on the left of the box. After a glance up, he pulls it back into the middle, and Di Maria lets it run. Messi comes in behind him to hit it the first time, firing low into the far bottom corner. 1-0 PSG!
MESSI SCORES AGAIN! It starts with the goalkeeper, and PSG works it nicely down the left with Mbappe whipping a great cross into the box. Messi brings it down in the middle and, cool as you like, takes it around Bertaud when he rushed off his line and slotted it into the empty net. 2-0 PSG!
DI MARIA SCORES! It’s excellent footwork from Mbappe down the left to leave two Montpellier defenders behind, and he lifts a cross in when he spots Messi’s late run. It’s glanced away by Esteve to Di Maria, who brings it down on the right of the box. His low shot takes a big deflection off Thuler, lifting it over Bertaud. 3-0 PSG!
MBAPPE SCORES! Despite waiting a long time before he could take the penalty, Mbappe didn’t let it faze him. He takes a short run-up before hitting his low shot into the bottom right corner, sending Bertaud the wrong way. 4-0 PSG!
So, what’s next?
PSG’s run of three draws is over, and they’re now unbeaten in their last eight.
They’ll be rounding off their season at home against Metz before they lift the trophy next week.
Montpellier’s winless run continues, and Dall-Oglio will be hoping they can finish their season with a win against Angers.
