Kylian Mbappe stars again as leader Monaco routs Nantes 4-0

Teenage forward Kylian Mbappe further underlined his reputation on Sunday as arguably the rising star of European football. He scored two more goals, helping league leader Monaco crush Nantes 40 to restore its three-point lead at the top of the French league.

The 18-year-old Mbappe is earning rave reviews this season. As well as drawing early comparisons with France great Thierry Henry for his speed and trickery, Mbappe has netted 15 times so far.

“Kylian is improving. He is becoming more efficient inside the penalty area, in terms of his positioning and his movement,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said. “He scored with a header and he made good runs. I congratulated him when he came off.”

Mbappe missed out on the chance for a third hat trick of the season when Jardim took him off midway through the second half, with the player earning a sustained ovation from the Stade Louis II crowd.

“I’m still learning from all the good players around me,” Mbappe said. “I’ll take all the opportunities I’m given.”

Monaco retained its threepoint cushion over both defending champion Paris Saint-Germain and thirdplaced Nice, although Monaco’s goal difference of plus 57 is 20 better than PSG’s and effectively makes the lead four points.

Jardim’s free-scoring side has 121 goals in all competitions this season - and has scored four goals or more in a game an impressive 14 times.

In the league, Monaco has 82 goals and, with 10 games left, is well on course to smash PSG’s formidable total of 102 from last season.

After Brazilian defender Fabinho’s penalty made it 4-0 in the 59th minute, Monaco eased up.

The club is competing on four fronts this season and faces a tough return leg against Manchester City in the Champions League on March 15 - having lost the first-leg Round of 16 match 5-3 in a thriller.

Monaco fans have been spoilt this season and, with just four minutes played, Mbappe struck with an athletic half-volley following good approach play from attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva.

After striker Valere Germain made it 2-0 in the 43rd with his ninth league goal of the season, Mbappe nodded in his second goal just before the break thanks to a perfect cross from Silva.

“We scored at the right times in the match, which was bad for them and gave us a boost,” Mbappe said.

Fabinho’s penalty came after midfielder Thomas Lemar was fouled.