BSP-02 Mbappe double keeps leaders PSG’s cushion over Marseille

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Mbappe double keeps leaders PSG’s cushion over Marseille

PARIS, Dec 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-
Germain maintained their seven-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 4-1
victory over Amiens on Saturday.

World Cup winner Mbappe, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday, netted
either side of Neymar’s effort before Mauro Icardi added a late fourth at the
Parc de Princes.

Steven Mendoza claimed a consolation effort for the visitors who dropped
into the relegation zone.

“Kylian and Neymar are really good together, they’ve gained confidence.
Neymar pushes Kylian and Kylian pushes Ney,” PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said.

“We played like a team. Now the challenge is to keep this attitude,” he
added.

Second-placed Marseille remain behind their bitter rivals going into the
two-week winter break with a 3-1 win over Nimes.

Tuchel recalled Neymar, the world’s most expensive player, to the squad
after resting him for the midweek League Cup victory over second-tier Le
Mans.

Amiens boss Luka Elsner chose against giving striker Alexis Blin a start
despite his injury time match-winner in Wednesday’s cup success over Angers.

Mbappe opened the scoring after 12 minutes to claim his 40th goal of the
calender year, chipping over goalkeeper Regis Gurtner after a sweeping
counter-attack move.

Neymar scored a second, his fourth in as many league matches, two minutes
into the second half before captain Thiago Silva left the field with an ankle
injury after 58 minutes.

Mbappe clinched his double on 65 minutes firing past Gurtner’s near-post.

Colombia winger Mendoza netted his fifth of the season with 20 minutes to
play before Icardi made sure of the rout after 84 minutes.

– Proud Payet –

Elsewhere, captain Dmitri Payet starred in Marseille’s convincing victory
over Nimes.

The 38-time France international was inches away from claiming the opener
before Sofiane Alakouch turned a cross into his own net.

He was involved in the build-up to Dario Benedetto’s second effort before
celebrating his second goal in four matches by donning a Santa Claus hat.

“We’ll make the most of the holidays because we’ve deserved them. We will
rest well before attacking January and February which will be tough,” Payet
told Canal

Rennes rose to third edging Bordeaux 1-0 thanks to Mbaye Niang’s effort as
Lille dropped to fourth after a 5-1 hammering at Monaco.

Metz moved out of the bottom three with a 2-2 draw at 16th-placed Dijon due
to Habib Maiga’s injury time equaliser.

BSS/AFP/MST/0835 hrs