Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe shared the goals and assist duties to lead PSG past AC Ajaccio and add to their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
Messi had two assists and one goal while Mbappe had two goals and one assist during the 3-0 win away from home to increase the defending champions‘ lead over second-placed Lorient to six points.
To many people’s surprise, the game began on equal footing with the home side deciding to go toe-to-toe with the munch-favoured PSG side. Ajaccio tried to build from possession while PSG forwards waited for a chance to attack.
The tactic almost paid off for Ajaccio as Mounaim El Idrissy fired the first warning shot in the fourth minute to make their intentions against PSG clear.
Ligue 1 leaders eventually found their footing with Messi testing Benjamin Leroy with a deflected free-kick before the keeper was helpless to stop Mbappe’s goal in the 24th minute after Messi played a defence-splitting pass allowing the Frenchman a first-time shot into the back of the net.
The forward had another chance of doubling his side’s lead just before halftime but missed an open goal.
Christophe Galtier’s side never looked like ruing the missed chance and eventually got their second through Messi in the 78th minute who combined with Mbappe to beat Leroy before stroking the ball home into an empty net.
In a deja-vu moment, Messi again sent Mbappe through again who got his second in the 82nd to seal all three points and quite the speculation about his future for now.
