PSG make it 14 games unbeaten in Ligue 1 by thrashing Lille! Unfortunately, Lille was the architect of their downfall in the first half, handing PSG three easy goals.
The hosts were tighter in the second half, but PSG still scored twice to wrap the three points up. Danilo Pereira will get the headlines for his two goals.
Starting Lineup:
LILLE (4-4-2): I. Grbié;
Z. Celik, Jose Fonte, S.Botman, G. Gudmundsson;
T. Weah, B. Andre, A.Onana, J. Bamba;
J. David, H. Ben Arfa.
SUBS: A. Gomes, D. Bradaric, Tiago Djalo, Leo Jardim, J. Pied, U. Raghouber, E. Zhegrova, Xeka.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (4-3-3): G. Donnarumma;
A. Hakimi, Marquinhos, P. Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes;
L. Paredes, Danilo Pereira, M. Verratti;
A.Di Maria, L. Messi, K. Mbappe.
SUBS: Juan Bernat, C. Dagba, E. Ebimbe, D. Draxler,T. Kehrer, L. Kurzawa, E. Michut, K. Navas, X.Simons.
Goals:
1-0. PSG take the lead thanks to an absolute gift from Grbic. The Lille keeper fumbles a bare cross, and Danilo Pereira stabs in from close range. That is not the start Lille wanted.
1-1. Lille level things up through Botman! Ben Arfa beats Di Maria down the goal line and dinks the ball back to the Dutchman in the centre of the box. The centre-back scissor kicks it straight at Donnarumma, who gets a hand to it but cannot keep it out of the net.
2-1. This goal is as simple as they come. Messi swings in a delightful corner. It loops over Grbic to Kimpembe, who arrives at the back post to prod it in.
3-1. This goal was a vintage Messi. The Argentine skips over a last-ditch Lille tackle and delicately dinks the ball over the onrushing Grbic. PSG suddenly have a commanding lead.
4-1. PSG are running rampant now. Grbic saves Messi’s shot from point-blank range after good work by Draxler down the right. However, Paredes nudges the ball back to Danilo Pereira, who fires home from the edge of the box to notch his second goal of the game.
5-1. PSG are just too good for Lille. Mbappe receives a pass from Verratti outside the box, weighs up his options, and bends an unstoppable shot into the far top corner.
What lies ahead for PSG and Lille?
PSG’s victory extends their lead at the top of Ligue 1 back to 13 points after Marseille’s win earlier this weekend.
The Parisians are unstoppable this season. Lille stays 11th.
They’re only six points from fourth and a Europa League place, but they’ve fallen so far from last season.
PSG will be facing Rennes and Lille will be facing Montpellier.
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