Mbappe shines as PSG equal European record
PARIS: Kylian Mbappe responded to being dropped by coming off the bench and scoring the opener as Paris Saint-germain won 2-0 at Marseille on Sunday to make it 11 wins out of 11 in Ligue 1 this season and match a long-standing European record.
Mbappe was a shock omission from the PSG starting line-up by coach Thomas Tuchel, with broadcaster Canal Plus reporting the move was a punishment after the teenage World Cup winner showed up late for the pre-match team talk.
But he was sent on in the 62nd minute of ‘Le Classique’ for Ericmaxim Choupo-moting and scored the breakthrough goal just three minutes later, being released by Angel di Maria and racing clear to finish past Steve Mandanda.
It was Mbappe’s 10th Ligue 1 goal this season, and Julian Draxler then wrapped up the victory in stoppage time. An 11th win on the bounce from the start of the campaign for PSG means they have equalled Tottenham Hotspur’s record from the 1960-61 season, the best in any of Europe’s big five leagues.
NICE DOWN BORDEAUX
Midfielder Wylan Cyprien’s first goal of the season helped Patrick Vieira’s Nice to a much-needed 1-0 win at Bordeaux.
Cyprien scored in the 54th minute after being set up by pacey winger Allan Saint-maximin. Bordeaux then hit the crossbar and Nice goalkeeper Walter Benitez made a brilliant injury-time save to keep out a header from forward Andreas Cornelius.
Vieira, a standout midfielder for France and Arsenal during his playing days, took charge this summer. His team has been inconsistent, with striker Mario Balotelli lacking match fitness and yet to find the net this season after scoring 18 league goals last season and 15 the season before.
The win moved Nice up to 10th place after 11 matches.