Nimes 0-4 Paris Saint-Germain: Kylian Mbappe bags a double as Thomas Tuchel’s men saunter home after struggling to break down hosts for long spells
- PSG went top with their fifth straight league win after two early-season losses
- Nimes went down to 10 men after 12 minutes and things got worse from then on
- Alessandro Florenzi and Pablo Sarabia also got themselves on the scoresheet
Star striker Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain won at 10-man Nimes 4-0 on Friday to move to the top of Ligue 1 for the first time this season.
Mbappe netted late to give France a 2-1 win at Croatia two days ago in the Nations League.
Nimes centre-half Loick Landre was sent off after 12 minutes for a chest-high tackle on midfielder Rafinha.
Kylian Mbappe wheels away after scoring his second and doubling his tally for the campaign
Loick Landre is dismissed after Rafinha felt the full force of the Nimes defender’s studs
The speedy Mbappe made a typical run behind the defence and beat goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet in the 32nd minute.
Right back Alessandro Florenzi’s header made it 2-0 in the 78th minute and Mbappe pounced five minutes later after being set up by winger Pablo Sarabia, who completed the rout.
PSG’s fifth straight win took them above Rennes on goal difference, with both sides on 15 points after a below-strength Rennes drew at bottom side Dijon 1-1 earlier on Friday.
PSG’s squad was depleted for the trip south.
Marquinhos, Layvin Kurzawa and Angel Di Maria were suspended, Marco Verratti and Julian Draxler came back injured from international duty, and Mauro Icardi injured his knee in training.
Also, with Manchester United coming to Paris in the Champions League next week, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel rested Neymar after he scored a hat-trick for Brazil in Peru on Tuesday.
Mbappe rounded Baptiste Reynet before slotting home to open the scoring on 32 minutes
But midfielder Leandro Paredes started despite playing for Argentina this week and limped off early on with a hamstring injury. Forward Moise Kean and Rafinha made their PSG debuts after signing recently.
Rennes, meanwhile, had lost their four previous trips to Dijon but netted midway through the first half when Martin Terrier turned in Hamari Traore’s left-wing cross.
Alessandro Florenzi celebrates after bundling the ball home from Pablo Sarabia’s header
Sarabia rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute as Thomas Tuchel’s men went top for now
Rennes centre half Damien Da Silva and midfielder Steven N’Zonzi were suspended, while 17-year-old midfielder Eduardo Camavinga was on the bench after playing for France on Wednesday.
Dijon equalised in the 54th minute when striker Mama Samba Balde beat two defenders and finished powerfully. Midfielder Flavien Tait hit the crossbar late on for Rennes.
In Saturday’s games, winger Hatem Ben Arfa could make his debut for Bordeaux away to Marseille.