Messi, Mbappe score as PSG hammer Lille 5-1

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both scored as PSG stretched their mammoth lead at the top of Ligue 1 to 13 points with a 5-1 thrashing of defending champions Lille on Sunday.

Mauricio Pochettino's men were given a helping hand by a nightmarish display from Lille goalkeeper Ivo Grbic. Portuguese midfielder Danilo Pereira netted twice, while Presnel Kimpembe also got on the scoresheet.

Lille are languishing down in 11th place after a seventh defeat of their title defence. The hosts needed to get something from the game to move into the top half of the table, but they made a calamitous start. Grbic somehow failed to gather in Nuno Mendes' low cross despite being under no pressure, and Danilo duly stabbed into an empty net to give PSG a 10th-minute lead.

Hatem Ben Arfa set up Sven Botman to equalise before the half-hour mark. But PSG were back in front in the 32nd minute as Kimpembe bundled home from close range. Messi grabbed his first goal of 2022, as a clearance ricocheted of his shins and played him in on goal. Grbic rushed out, but the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner dinked the ball into the net. PSG quickly put paid to any thoughts of a comeback from Lille as Danilo scored his second goal.

There was nothing the goalkeeper could do to keep about PSG's fifth goal, as Mbappe unleashed a curling strike from outside the area into the top corner.

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