Dominant Nice end Monaco record winning streak

Mbappe scores on debut, PSG thump Metz

PARIS, Sept 9, (AFP): Mario Balotelli scored a brace as Monaco’s record 16-match winning streak in Ligue 1 was ended with a 4-0 thumping by Nice at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday.

Balotelli’s early penalty put Nice ahead, before Alassane Plea made it two in the 18th minute.

Monaco tried to apply some pressure early in the second period, but Balotelli ball over the top to round Subasic and slot home.

Kylian Mbappe scored on his debut as Paris Saint-Germain eased to a 5-1 away thumping of 10-man Metz in Ligue 1.

Neymar’s pin-point through ball created the opening goal for Edinson Cavani in the 31st minute, only for Emmanuel Riviere to head in an equaliser before half-time.

But the game was all but ended in the space of three second-half minutes, as Benoit Assou-Ekotto saw red for a lunge on Mbappe, before the youngster netted his debut strike.

PSG ran riot late on, with Neymar getting himself onto the scoresheet, Cavani stabbing in his second and Lucas Moura grabbing the fifth.

The victory is PSG’s fifth in a row to start the Ligue 1 season, and takes them three points clear at the top of the fledgling table, ahead of champions Monaco, who play Nice on Saturday.

“It’s important for me to have good balance on the pitch,” said PSG coach Unai Emery.

“I think that the good players like to play with good players, and Kylian (Mbappe) made a good start.”

PSG can now turn their attentions to the start of the Champions League group stages on Tuesday when they take on Celtic in Glasgow.

Mbappe was handed a starting spot on his debut after joining from Monaco on a season-long loan, with an option to buy for a fee that could reach 180 million euros ($216.5m). Nice’s French defender Christophe Jallet vies with Monaco’s French midfielder Rachid Ghezzal during the French L1 football match Nice (OGCN) vs Monaco (ASM) on Sept 9, at the ‘Allianz Riviera’ Stadium in Nice, southeastern France. (AFP)