Mbappe’s double in opening eight minutes moved PSG onto 84 points with two games left, six ahead of second-placed RC Lens with a much better goal difference (+50 to +34)
Kylian Mbappe.File photo
Paris St Germain took a decisive step towards a record 11th Ligue 1 title as Kylian Mbappe struck twice in a 2-1 win at relegation-threatened AJ Auxerre on Sunday.
Mbappe’s double in the opening eight minutes moved PSG onto 84 points with two games left, six ahead of second-placed RC Lens with a much better goal difference (+50 to +34).
Christophe Galtier’s side need to avoid defeat at Racing Strasbourg next Saturday to wrap up the title.
Mbappe broke the deadlock after six minutes with a right-footed effort into the top corner and doubled their tally two minutes later with a 20-metre strike after being set up by Lionel Messi.
Mbappe now tops the Ligue 1 scoring chart having netted 28 times this season, two more than Olympique Lyonnais forward Alexandre Lacazette.
Lionel Messi did not score but had a hand in one of Mbappe’s goals. It was Messi’s 20th assist of this season. He became the only player in Europe’s top five leagues this season to register 20 goals and also provide 20 assists across all competitions.
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Auxerre were no pushovers, however, and Rayan Raveloson’s half-volley crashed against the bar, while Gianluigi Donnarumma made a brilliant save on the stroke of halftime to deny Nuno Da Costa.
The hosts reduced the arrears six minutes into the second half, Lassine Sinayoko beating Donnarumma with a low angled shot for his first Ligue 1 goal.
Napoli record
Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored a stunning goal to help the Serie A champions beat 10-man Inter Milan 3-1 to end the Nerazzurri’s eight-match winning run.
Di Lorenzo’s goal came with five minutes remaining, shortly after Romelu Lukaku had leveled for Inter by canceling out Andre Anguissa’s opener.
Inter had to play most of the match with 10 men after midfielder Roberto Gagliardini was sent off shortly before the break following a second yellow card.
It was the first time in their history that Napoli have beaten the other 19 Serie A teams at least once in the season.
Inter remained two points above fifth-place AC Milan in a tight fight for the top-four.
Lazio are on the brink of a return to the Champions League. Ciro Immobile earned and scored a second-half penalty in a 1-0 win against Udinese to help send Lazio four points above Milan.
The 33-year-old Immobile has been involved in 200 goals for Lazio — scoring 162 and providing 38 assists.
Lazio last played in Europe’s premier club competition in the 2020-21 season.
