Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Paris St Germain won 3-0 at Reims for a fifth straight Ligue 1 victory to move top of the table.
Luis Enrique’s side produced the required response from the midweek Champions League defeat by AC Milan to keep the pressure on Nice, who were held to a goalless draw at Montpellier on Friday night.
However, despite taking an early lead, PSG had to overcome some testing spells at Stade Auguste-Delaune before Mbappe settled matters late on.
MBAPPÉ S HAT-TRICK GIVES PSG THE TOP SPOT IN LIGUE 1
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG)
Mbappe had given the visitors a perfect start by opening the scoring after just three minutes with a superb finish.
Ousmane Dembele swung the ball in from the right and Mbappe dispatched a fine volley back into the bottom corner from the left side of the penalty area.
Reims, though, were soon on the offensive themselves and had an equaliser ruled out.
Mohamed Daramy sent Junya Ito away down the left channel and the Japan international slotted a composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
7
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)
The home side’s celebrations, though, were shortlived as the goal was swiftly ruled out for offside.
Ito was soon involved again as he put Marshall Munetsi in down the right side of the PSG penalty area but he slashed his shot wide.
A low free-kick from the Japan forward looked to be creeping in at the near post but Donnarumma got down to make a smart reaction save.
Azor Matusiwa then fired wide after latching on to a stray pass out from Donnarumma before Emmanuel Agbadou’s effort sailed just over.
45’ [0-1]
Mi-temps à Delaune ! Surpris d entrée, les Rouge et Blanc ont concédé l ouverture avant de se procurer plusieurs grosses opportunités. Allez Rémois, on continue à pousser !
— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims)
Amir Richardson was denied by another fine stop from the PSG keeper at point-blank range just before the break.
Cheered on by a vocal home support, Reims threatened again early in the second half when Agbadou’s header from a corner was pushed away by Donnarumma.
PSG, though, made their hosts pay for spurning numerous chances to get themselves level when Mbappe doubled the lead just before the hour.
