Mbappe at the double as PSG return to fine form and relegate Ajaccio from Ligue 1
The boo-boys were out in force as Lionel Messi returned to the PSG starting XI after apologising for his misdemeanour, and after closest pursuers Lens secured all three points yesterday evening, the pressure was back on Les Parisiens to restore a six-point cushion at the Ligue 1 summit.
Against a side who have scored only twice in the last nine, Christophe Galtier’s men knew they would enjoy the lion’s share of possession and toyed with their prey early on.
It was Fabian Ruiz who eventually took the initiative via a Danilo Pereira through-ball, cutting inside and finishing with the outside of his left foot - his second goal in two games.
Moments later, the returning Achraf Hakimi made it two, tapping in from a tight angle after Ajaccio's Francois-Joseph Sollacaro could only parry Mbappe’s effort.
On replay, it looked as though Mbappe handled after bringing the ball down with his chest, but to the astonishment of all, referee Pierre Gaillouste awarded the goal despite consulting VAR.
Kevin Spadanuda perhaps should have pulled one back prior to half-time, but it was almost as if he forgot how to shoot with the goal at his mercy inside the six-yard box.
He would rue the opportunity seconds after the break, with Mbappe making it a quarter-century for the season, yet he will go some way to find a messier one, bundling the ball home after both he and strike partner Hugo Ekitike had spurned chances.
Mbappe didn’t stop there, however, making up for his scrappy first by unleashing a 20-yard thunderbolt on the volley, having pounced on a poor defensive header.
The game almost had an exhibition feel to it in the dying moments and even PSG's captain Marquinhos got in on the act, benefitting from a Mbappe rabona before his deflected strike wrapped up all three points.
Handbags were drawn late on, seeing Hakimi and Thomas Mangani receive their marching orders, but the damage was done as Ajaccio's return to the second tier after just one campaign away.
Flashscore Player of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
