Paris Saint-Germain 5-0 Ajaccio: Player ratings as Mbappe stars in thumping win
Paris Saint-Germain reasserted their six-point lead in the Ligue 1 title race with a comprehensive thrashing of Ajaccio, who were relegated into France's second tier.
Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring before Achraf Hakimi followed in a saved shot on the rebound.
Mbappe bagged his first two minutes into the second half before an awesome strike from the edge of the box put Christophe Galtier's side 4-0 up within an hour.
Mohamed Youssouf's own goal finished the scoring, though there was still time for Achraf Hakimi and Thomas Mangini to be sent off before the full time whistle blew.
Lionel Messi was back in the starting lineup having had his suspension lifted by PSG, though all signs suggest a return to Barcelona is looking likelier and likelier for the Argentine World Cup winner.
PSG dominated early possession before taking the lead in the 22nd minute. Danilo Pereira's pass towards Hugo Ekitike was instead taken by Ruiz, who flicked the ball into the top corner with the outside of his boot.
Ajaccio continued to be penned in, having to take last ditch measures in defence to stop the hosts adding to their lead. It mattered little, however, as PSG soon went 2-0 up.
Juan Bernat volleyed a cross to Mbappe, who wriggled free to get a show away. Francois-Joseph Sollacaro made the save but could only palm the ball to Hakimi, who finished well from a slightly cute angle.
The home side's advantage was stretched to three goals through slightly calamitous circumstances for visiting keeper Sollacaro.
A cross eventually made its way to Mbappe after some pinball action in the box. The France captain smashed a shot at Sollacaro and it burst through the goalie with enough back-spin to travel over the line.
There was nothing calamitous about the way Mbappe grabbed his second, however.
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Sergio Ramos' punt forward was headed into the air by an Ajaccio defender and Mbappe took his volley first time, sending a searing strike into the top corner for his 26th Ligue 1 goal of the season.
Some last ditch defending from the visitors couldn't prevent a fifth goal going in. Marquinhos' attempted drive instead deflected off Youssouf's leg and ricocheted past Sollacaro.
The win means PSG have a hand of the Ligue 1 title, though the heavy boos for the returning Messi reminded everyone watching of the major issues at play in Paris.
Paris Saint-Germain player ratings (3-4-3)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6/10 - Largely a spectator with very little to do.
CB: Marquinhos - 7/10 - Not afraid to burst forward with PSG dominating possession. Cross across the box was deflected in for PSG's fifth.
CB: Sergio Ramos - 7/10 - Showed his full passing range, with one ambitious ball resulting in Mbappe's crushing volley. Not overly stretched in defence.
CB: Danilo Pereira - 7/10 - Kept possession ticking around defence and midfield and recovered the ball eight times in total.
RWB: Achraf Hakimi - 6/10 - Was alive to the loose ball to grab PSG's second. His dangerous crosses lead to goals and other scoring opportunities for his side's attackers. Sent off for his part in a wildly unnecessary scuffle.
CN: Marco Verratti - 6/10 - Made some trademark defensive challenges, though was dribbled past on occasion.
CM: Fabian Ruiz - 7/10 - Inventive finish opened the floodgates for PSG. A sharp defensive presence in midfield on occasion.
LWB: Juan Bernat - 6/10 - Had plenty of freedom on the left and linked up with Ruiz nicely.
RW: Lionel Messi - 8/10 - The boos will dominate but Messi largely did his thing, creating chances with some incisive passing and dribbling.
ST: Hugo Ekitike - 7/10 - Had the presence of mind to tee up Mbappe during a goal-mouth scramble.
LW: Kylian Mbappe - 9/10 - Had enough power on his first shot to beat Sollacaro but his second was pure brilliance, lashing past the visiting goalie with such venom and force.
Substitutes
Renato Sanches (64' for Ruiz) - 6/10
Vitinha (64' for Verratti) - 7/10
El Chadaille Bitshiabu (70' for Pereira) - 6/10
Carlos Soler (83' for Ekitike) - N/A
Warren Zaire-Emery (83' for Bernat) - N/A
Manager
Christophe Galtier - 7/10 - PSG would have been slaughtered had they done anything but beat Ajaccio. The gap in quality was so marked that individual moments were enough for victory.
Ajaccio player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Francois-Joseph Sollacaro (4); RB: Mohamed Youssouf (4), CB: Cedric Avinel (5), CB: Clement Vidal (5), LB: Ismael Diallo (4); CM: Vincent Marchetti (6), CM: Thomas Mangani (5), CM: Mathieu Coutadeur (6); RW: Mickael Barreto (6), ST: Mounaim El Idrissy (6), LW: Kevin Spadanuda (6)
Substitutes: Moussa Soumano (6), Ivane Chegra (6), Ryad Nouri (6), Mickael Alphonse (6), Florian Chabrolle (N/A)
Player of the match - Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
