Neymar sparkles as PSG thrash Bordeaux

Monaco held by Montpellier, coach takes blame

PARIS, Sept 30, (AFP): Neymar scored twice, including a first-half penalty, and created another goal as Paris Saint-Germain hammered previously unbeaten Bordeaux 6-2 in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

The Brazilian curled in a brilliant 30-yard free-kick after just five minutes at the Parc des Princes before sliding in Edinson Cavani to double the lead seven minutes later.

Thomas Meunier’s excellent side-footed finish made it 3-0 to PSG on 21 minutes, but Bordeaux hit back on the half hour as Younousse Sankhare applied the final touch to a slick team move.

PSG were then awarded a penalty, the first since a row between Neymar and Cavani over spot-kick duties overshadowed a 2-0 win against Lyon a fortnight ago, with Neymar this time stepping up to convert.

Julian Draxler volleyed in a superb fifth before half-time and Kylian Mbappe added another on 58 minutes, while Malcom scored a late penalty for Bordeaux, as PSG pulled three points clear of defending champions Monaco at the top.

Unai Emery rested captain Thiago Silva for the visit of third-place Bordeaux, who arrived in the capital trailing PSG by just four points after seven matches.

The hosts brushed aside five-time European champions Bayern Munich 3-0 in midweek and the gap in class on Saturday was evident from the start against Jocelyn Gourvennec’s team.

With Monaco dropping points in Friday’s 1-1 draw at home to Montpellier, PSG immediately signalled their intent as three quick-fire goals left Bordeaux seeking to limit the damage. Neymar struck early as his magnificent freekick flashed beyond a helpless Benoit Costil, with the Brazilian then playing in Cavani to poke in his eighth league goal of the season on 12 minutes.

PSG were further in front when Yuri Berchiche’s cross from the left skipped past Mbappe but Meunier ran onto it and the Belgian international steered past Costil.

Bordeaux replied on 31 minutes after Theo Pellenard demonstrated remarkable composure to thread in Nicolas de Preville who squared for Sankhare to tap into an empty net.

But a senseless handball from Otavio gifted PSG a penalty and Neymar, rather than Cavani whose effort in the Lyon win on Sept 17 was saved, tucked away the spot-kick for his sixth league goal.

Draxler made it five in style on the stroke of half-time when he fired in from Mbappe’s floated cross, and the French teenager notched a goal of his own on 58 minutes after he was released in behind the defence by the German.

Bordeaux substitute Alexandre Mendy smacked the outside of the post on 69 minutes while a shot from Neymar whistled just wide after a clever exchange with Draxler.

Brazilian Malcom, who extended his contract with Bordeaux until 2021 this week, netted a consolation in the final minute after Jonathan Cafu was fouled in the area by Meunier.

Meanwhile, French champions Monaco missed the chance to go top of Ligue 1 as Souleymane Camara struck an injury-time equaliser to snatch Montpellier a 1-1 draw at the Stade Louis II on Friday.

After a slow start, Monaco struck first in the 38th minute as the red-hot Radamel Falcao slid in to score, but Montpellier kept their hosts at arm’s length and Camara stunned the home crowd.

Leonardo Jardim’s men trail league leaders Paris Saint-Germain on goal difference, ahead of the capital club’s home match against unbeaten Bordeaux on Saturday.

“Five minutes from the end when you’re leading 1-0, you need to stay focused,” the Portuguese coach said.

“Of course, I’m not happy. The goal of winning was not achieved. The person responsible for these things is me.”

Monaco went into the game after a surprising 3-0 Champions League loss at home to Porto in midweek.

Jardim responded by making five changes to his starting XI, welcoming back goalkeeper Danijel Subasic from injury, as well as reinstating close-season signing Stevan Jovetic alongside Falcao up front.

Montpellier, who held PSG to a 0-0 draw last weekend, began the match on the front foot and they could have taken the lead when Pedro Mendes found himself with space inside the area, but the centre-back curled too close to Subasic. Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar shoots to score a penalty kick during the French L1 football match Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs Bordeaux (FCGB) on Sept 30, 2017 at the Parc des Princes

Stadium in Paris. (AFP)