Mbappe, Neymar just two good!
Paris, November 3
Kylian Mbappe and Neymar scored late goals to give Paris Saint-Germain a 2-1 win over nearest challengers Lille as the French champions extended to 12 games their perfect start to the season at the end of a troubled day for the club.
Mbappe made a magnificent strike from just outside the box 20 minutes from time after getting the break of the ball, and Neymar then gave PSG a two-goal buffer before Nicolas Pepe pulled one back for the away side from the penalty spot.
PSG extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to 11 points after a 12th straight league win that means they have now beaten Tottenham Hotspur’s old record for consecutive wins at the start of a season.
Matching Spurs record
Spurs had emerged victorious from their opening 11 matches in their double-winning 1960-61 season, a performance that had stood since as a record in Europe’s so-called big five leagues — Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France.
The result is a boost for PSG ahead of their crucial Champions League trip to Italy to face Napoli next Tuesday, when a defeat could leave Thomas Tuchel’s side on the brink of an early exit, unthinkable for a team with their ambitions.
Mbappe was back in the PSG starting line-up after being left on the bench against Marseille last weekend for arriving late for the pre-game team talk, only to come on and score the opener in a 2-0 win. Marco Verratti also started, despite PSG confirming earlier on Friday that the Italian had been caught drink-driving overnight Tuesday to Wednesday on the ring road around the French capital.
Cavani absent
PSG needed to put the off-field noise behind them but also try to break down a Lille side enjoying their best start to a season in 66 years. Christophe Galtier’s side have been excellent so far in this campaign, but their lively attack did not give Gianluigi Buffon much to worry about on his return to the PSG line-up. — AFP
