PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé climbs to the top of the French League scoring table with two goals as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed dubious Lyon on Sunday to claim their biggest win of the season under new Spaniard manager Luis Enrique.
A brilliant result does not hide the poor defensive qualities of the opponent of the champion Paris. PSG’s first goal was a careless penalty, two more were counterattacks, and one hit the opponent’s goal in fits and starts.
All of PSG’s goals were scored in the first half against a dying Lyon. Captain Corentin Tolisso complained about the team’s performance over the weekend, but faltered when he couldn’t control his goalkeeper’s pass, then made a child throw at Uruguayan Manuel Ugarte and earned a clean penalty. Mbappé shot right through the center and beat Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopez in the 4th minute, despite Lopez managing to touch the ball with his foot.
After right-back Ashraf Hakimi made a cross that Lyon’s defense failed to convert in the 20th minute, Spanish attacking midfielder Marco Asensio and Mbappe clinically deflected counterattacks.
Mbappe has been doing well since his return to the team following a break that kept him out of the transfer market. The French star’s five goals put him ahead of Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder, a perennial contender for the top scorer of recent seasons, and Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed.
PSG remain undefeated after four games and have overtaken rivals Marseille on goal difference to move into second place behind leaders Monaco with 10 points and 13 goals scored.
An early free kick from midfielder Yusuf Yazici was enough for Lille to win 1-0 at home over Montpellier on Sunday in the French league.
The Turkish midfielder landed a strong left footed shot in the second minute of the game and became Lille’s first fifth of the season in the league.
Nice won their first win, beating Strasbourg 2-0 at home to move up to seventh place. Defender Yousef Atal gave a pass and sent the ball on target in stoppage time of the first half. Striker Terem Moffi shot past goalkeeper Matz Sels in the 75th minute.
Elsewhere, Toulouse conceded a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time in a 2-2 home draw against Clermont, which they equalized with a strike from defender Florent Ogier.
Newly promoted Le Havre picked up their first win of the season after beating Lorient 3-0, while Metz, who returned to the top flight last season, drew 2-2 against Reims.
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