Kylian Mbappé netted his 25th Ligue 1 Uber Eats goal of the season as Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 at struggling Troyes on Sunday to move Christophe Galtier’s men six points clear of the field at the top of the table with just four games left in the 2022/23 French top-flight season.
THE MATCH
Mired deep in the relegation zone at kick-off, Troyes had little to lose except another match – they had failed to win any of their last 14 at home – and Patrick Kisnorbo’s strugglers were almost immediately playing catch-up.
That’s often the case when faced with the jet-heeled Mbappé. The France captain was on hand to head home when Vitinha’s shot ricocheted off Gauthier Gallon’s crossbar (8′) after PSG’s Portugal international midfielder had been played in down the right by Ruiz. It was Mbappé’s first headed goal since August 2021, a strike that had also come in the Champagne region but at Troyes’ derby rivals Reims, and only the fifth header in 207 goals for PSG.
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Gallon denied Ruiz with a fine save that he might not have been able to make had the Spain international not slipped as he shot (21′), and the Troyes goalkeeper then watched Danilo Pereira head over the crossbar (22′) with the reigning champions in a hurry to build on their lead.
Gallon then denied Ruiz once more (27′) before Mama Baldé brought a good save from Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marquinhos brilliantly blocked Ike Ugbo’s follow-up (28′) as PSG, who were without the suspended Lionel Messi and Achraf Hakimi, enjoyed a major let-off.
The league leaders’ Italy international goalkeeper kept out Mama Baldé’s diving header (45′) to preserve PSG’s lead, and Vitinha then helpfully extended it just before the hour mark: Marco Verratti’s ball allowed the former Porto man to head goalwards, and though Gallon parried his first attempt, he followed up to double PSG’s advantage (59′).
Xavier Chavalerin gave Galtier cause for concern when he pulled one back with seven minutes to go, heading home at the near post (83′), but Ruiz then fired the loose ball high into the net after Gallon had parried an Mbappé shot into his path (86′) to inch PSG towards a record 11th Ligue 1 Uber Eats title.
THE PLAYER: Gianluigi Donnarumma
The PSG goalkeeper made a couple of crucial stops, notably in the first half when Troyes might have gone in at the interval all square.
THE STAT: 2
PSG have dropped just two points this season after opening the scoring in a top-flight game.
