Kylian Mbappe scored and got here by unscathed together with fellow Paris Saint-Germain stars Lionel Messi and Neymar of their ultimate match earlier than the World Cup, a 5-0 Ligue 1 rout of Auxerre on Sunday. PSG coach Christophe Galtier opted to not relaxation the attacking trio towards the Burgundy aspect because the champions sought to increase their lead on the high of the desk earlier than the break for the match in Qatar. And Mbappe scored the opener after 11 minutes in Paris for his twelfth league objective this season after good work by Messi, Moroccan Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.
Carlos Soler nodded within the second after 51 minutes after which arrange Hakimi for the third six minutes later. Renato Sanches and Hugo Ekitike added two extra within the ultimate ten minutes.
The Parisians transfer 5 factors forward of Lens, who received 2-1 at residence towards Clermont on Saturday, with Rennes an additional 5 factors adrift in third.
For his or her ultimate match earlier than the World Cup, the MNM trio — Messi, Neymar, Mbappe — took to the pitch however didn’t actually sparkle in a recreation performed with out nice depth.
The apathy of the magic trio didn’t, nevertheless, stop the champions giving an illustration of their goal-scoring prowess earlier than a giant break till their subsequent Ligue 1 match on December 28 towards Strasbourg.
Mbappe’s early objective following a gorgeous cross from Messi relayed by Mendes, appear to anaesthetize the Parisian forwards.
No query of taking the slightest threat for the World Cup gamers in a match which might be the ultimate one for veterans Messi and Neymar.
Kimpembe return
If Messi made an effort and even discovered the publish with a curled shot from the left after 66 minutes, Neymar measured his tempo, collapsing on the slightest contact and taking part in in gradual movement, with none depth, removed from flamboyance of his first a part of the season.
Earlier than Paris pulled forward within the second half, Auxerre proved harmful on entrance of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s objective with makes an attempt by Mbaye Niang (16) and Lassine Sinayoko (21) to get the equaliser for the aspect who sit fifteenth in Ligue 1.
Galtier gave some taking part in time to French defender Presnel Kimpembe, who got here on for the ultimate quarter of an hour having spent a month out with an Achilles tendon harm.
It was excellent news for the France group and Didier Deschamps 9 days earlier than the Blues open their World Cup defence towards Australia on November 22.
His arrival coincided with the exits of Messi and Neymar after 74 minutes, not sad for as soon as to depart the sector prematurely.
Messi, who tasted glory within the Copa America final yr, will likely be hoping to fireplace Argentina to World Cup glory for the primary time since 1986.
Mbappe will likely be one of many key gamers for defending champions France in Qatar and Neymar will spearhead Brazil’s push for a sixth World Cup crown.
Promoted
The match begins with a match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador on November 20.
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