Unlikely PSG hero plays in a three role
A HAT-TRICK from leftback Layvin Kurzawa helped PSG reach the last 16 in emphatic fashion as the French giants extended their perfect Group B record.
Neymar, back in the Unai Emery’s team after being sent off during the French Classique against Marseille, scored the second goal on the stroke of half-time.
That came after Marco Verratti’s opener, with Kurzawa completing the scoring with his classy treble after the interval.
The Parisians dominated from the outset but Kylian Mbappe’s early strike was blocked by Frank Boeckx.
The France forward then found Verratti in the area on the half-hour to allow the Italy midfielder to fire the ball home.
It was a deserved lead for PSG, who doubled their advantage four minutes into first-half stoppage time when Neymar’s 20-yard strike flew past the Belgian champions’ keeper Boeckx.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Brazilian superstar’s free-kick bounced on to the post and into the path of Kurzawa, who poked home to make it 3-0.
The defender made it four with a diving header in the 72nd minute and completed his treble six minutes later with a low shot after being set up by Angel di Maria.
Hat-trick hero Kurzawa said: “I scored thanks to my team-mates’ work.
“I needed that confidence boost.
“Now I need to continue to work and further improve as a player.”
And after netting his second goal in 40 Champions League appearances, Verratti said: “It’s always a pleasure to score.
“After scoring the first goal we played more freely and managed to secure a nice team victory.
“Everybody contributed and the strikers even helped out with the defensive tasks.
“We also managed to play fast, which is always important against teams who come here to sit back and wait.”
Former Rangers, Ajax and Barcelona star Ronald de Boer, now a TV pundit, was hugely impressed with PSG’s performance.
The Dutchman said: “They said that Mbappe wasn’t in form but he did some great stuff tonight.
“I liked the way that he was always aware of what was going on around him.
“For the first goal he could have shot but he saw that Verratti was in a better position.
“The forward line is incredible and they have a couple of Titans at the back.
“The whole team swings when they play football.”