MY ACCOUNT
Kylian Mbappe became the first Paris Saint-Germain player to score five goals in a match as his side eased into the last 16 of the Coupe de France with a 7-0 win over sixth-tier Pays de Cassel on Monday.
The lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Pays de Cassel did not look overawed at Stade Bollaert-Delelis – the home of Lens – but PSG’s vastly superior quality unsurprisingly soon shone through.
An 11-minute first-half spell saw the Ligue 1 leaders roar into an unassailable 4-0 lead, with Mbappe scoring three and setting up Neymar.
Mbappe continued his brutal exhibition after half-time with a couple of close-range goals either side of Carlos Soler’s impudent finish.
Pays de Cassel gave a good account of themselves initially, putting together some intricate passing moves that brought huge cheers around their home away from home.
But PSG’s breakthrough eventually arrived in the 29th minute as Mbappe met Nuno Mendes’ cut-back and found the net via a significant deflection.
He then released Neymar to make it 2-0, the Brazilian dazzling the defence with his quick feet before firing left-footed through goalkeeper Romain Samson’s legs.
Samson could only watch as Mbappe brought up his hat-trick before half-time with a pair of sumptuous chips.
But the keeper was culpable 10 minutes into the second half, completely missing Neymar’s pass and allowing Mbappe a tap-in.
More great work by Neymar just after the hour left Soler to backheel over the line from a couple of yards out.
Soler was involved again 11 minutes from time as Mbappe completed the scoring with another poacher’s effort from the Spaniard’s cross.
What does it mean? PSG meet expectations
In truth, this match tells us very little about PSG’s quality – but if the Parisians are in need of a particular way to spin this victory, it is that they comfortably lived up to fans’ expectations.
A win for Pays de Cassel here was so unlikely that had they pulled it off, they would probably have had a genuine claim to producing the biggest shock in football – ever.
But even before Mbappe’s somewhat fortuitous opener, PSG never looked like falling short. They dealt with the occasion in a professional manner, and that is about all Christophe Galtier could hope for.
Neymar outshone but still sparkles
Mbappe, obviously, takes the headlines, but Neymar was also virtually unplayable. He ended the game with a couple of assists from four key passes, more than anyone else on the pitch.
Ekitike fails to impose himself
You would be forgiven for not realising Hugo Ekitike was on the pitch. The young forward touched the ball just 21 times in 67 minutes – the fewest of PSG’s starters, and even fewer than three of their substitutes.
What’s next?
PSG return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday by hosting Reims.
