Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe were both on top form as PSG cruised to a 4-1 win over Belgium side Club Brugge at Pac des Princes in a UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
France international, Mbappe scored the opener with less than two minutes played before adding to his tally with a thumping volley just five minutes later as PSG came out of the blocks flying.
PSG forward Kylian Mbappe celebrate after scoring the opener against Club Brugge in a UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday, 7 December 2021. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
Mbappe added an assist later in the first half, nutmegging his marker on the left flank before switching the play to Messi in the centre and the recently announced Ballon d’Or winner lashed home from the edge of the box.
The visitors scored a consolation through Mats Rits in the 68th minute, but PSG regained their three-goal advantage just eight minutes after conceding as Messi rifled home a penalty.
PSG wasted no time in opening the scoring, with Mbappe curling in off the right post after Simon Mignolet failed to deal with Nuno Mendes’ left-wing cross, rebounding it back into a dangerous area.
Mbappe was at it again in just the seventh minute with an emphatic volley after a delightful dink over the Club Brugge defence by Angel Di Maria.
The 22-year old turned provider in the 38th minute, bursting away down the wing before finding Messi, who curled a fantastic strike inside the left post from just outside the area to make it a 3-0 lead.
PSG forward Lionel Messi celebrate after scoring the third against Club Brugge in a UEFA Champions League clash at Pac des Princes on Tuesday, December 7 2021. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
Club Brugge pulled one back midway through the second half as Noa Lang darted into space from the left and squared to Rits, who curled a low effort into the bottom-left corner despite a touch from PSG shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
However, Messi drew a foul from substitute Ignace Van der Brempt in the area and stepped up to drill a superb penalty into the bottom-right corner that left Mignolet rooted to the spot and rounded off the scoring.
With the group matches now over, the loss pushed Club Brugge to the bottom place as RB Leipzig defeated Manchester City to secure a Europa League spot.
Manchester City had already secured the top spot in Group A and PSG had already qualified as the second-placed team prior to match week six in the Champions League.
Both sides will now turn their attention to their respective leagues as PSG host Monaco at Pac des Princes in a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday, 12 December. Club Brugge on their side will have a home match against Zulte Waregem on the same day in a Belgium Pro League meeting.
Also, Read: Kylian Mbappe a centurion scorer for PSG
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