Lille 1-5 PSG: Messi, Mbappe help Parisians earn 13 pts lead

A comprehensive victory for PSG sees them go 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 thanks to goals from Danilo (2), Messi, Kimpembe and Mbappé. Botmas replied for the hosts.

It was a chance for the Parisian club to exact revenge on Lille, who took the Ligue 1 championship away from them last season, but in truth it was barely a contest at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

PSG took just 10 minutes to go ahead through Danilo Pereira, with the Portuguese midfielder able to capitalise on a miscommunication within the Lille defence and put the ball into an empty net at the back post.

Lionel Messi then spurned a chance to double the lead in the 18th minute, with the Argentine finding himself unmarked inside the penalty area, but he sent a shot whistling beyond the left post.

Against the run of play, the hosts found themselves level after 28 minutes after Sven Botman, fresh from failing to secure a January move, fired the ball into the net after bringing a Hatem Ben Arfa cross under control.

It was a quite magical strike, but the story of the first half was told by the possession statistics, with PSG controlling the game with 59 percent of the ball.

Not only were they in control, they were creating chances and it took just four minutes for the league leaders to regain their lead. Messi delivered a fine cross towards the back post where Presnel Kimpembe was waiting and the defender placed a shot into the net from close range, beating the goalkeeper comfortably.

It was 3-1 in the blink of an eye, with Messi finally getting on the scoresheet after conducting much of PSG’s creative play in the match. It was a goal right out of the classic Messi playbook, beating several defenders on a mazy dribble before nonchalantly chipping the ball over the onrushing keeper.

The second half was a procession, with PSG looking to avoid injuries, yet two further goals would follow as Leandro Paredes set up Danilo Pereira for his second of the match.

Kylian Mbappe finally got in on the act with 20 minutes left to play, latching onto a pass and blasting a shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the box.

It was a result which told us little about PSG in truth, as you expect them to be dominant domestically. While their lead over Marseille is 13 points, their real test will come in the Champions League.

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