Paris Saint-Germain has booked an important victory against FC Métz on Saturday thanks to two goals from Kylian Mbappé: 1-3. The star player of PSG set his season total to fifteen goals and four assists in away games and is again next to Erling Braut Haaland of Borussia Dortmund (sixteen goals plus three assists). No player in the top five leagues was involved in more goals in duels. Mbappé and Haaland also both have 25 goals in total in their competition. PSG takes over the lead from Lille OSC, which has one point less. The latter club will play the top match at number four Olympique Lyon on Sunday.
In the fourth minute, Ander Herrera sent a long pass to Mbappé from their own half, which suddenly broke through. After a long rush, the striker decided with an instep shot that fell through the inside of the post: 0-1. PSG then dominated the game and became dangerous, among other things, via a free kick from Neymar, which ended just next to the intersection. Moments later, the Brazilian was threatening with an attempt from the front that was halfway between a cross and a shot.
Metz had only fired one shot on goal in the first half, but came out of the dressing rooms strongly after the break. A cross from Farid Boulaya was headed in at the far post by Fabien Centonze: 1-1. PSG got off well when Pape Sarr bumped into goalkeeper Keylor Navas’s feet seven minutes later from an awkward angle. It spurred PSG on a new offensive, which initially led to a huge opportunity for Leandro Paredes, who was held back from close range by Alexandre Oukidja’s superb save.
A weak pass from right back Fabien Centonze brought Mbappé possession of the ball to the edge of the penalty area after an hour of play. The attacker did not hesitate, suddenly hit hard and saw the ball come in through a hand from Oukidja: 1-2. Mitchel Bakker came in the lines shortly afterwards for PSG, which was explicitly looking for the third goal. Mbappé thought he would score after a wonderful assist from Neymar, but saw Boulaya get the ball off the line. The decision came after all when Mauro Icardi was knocked out by Dylan Bronn in the penalty area. The Argentinian striker finished the next penalty with a panenka: 1-3.
PSG received bad news just before that when Mbappé had to be replaced with an apparent thigh injury. In Amsterdam, PSG’s victory will be welcomed with cheers, because Ajax will move up a place towards pot 2 of the Champions League if PSG becomes champion.
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