PARIS:
Kylian Mbappe made a break to score a winner in the last minute Paris Saint-Germain beat Brest 2-1 on Saturday, a result that will go some way to healing the wounds of their midweek exit from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.
PSG have only the Ligue 1 title to play for in the remaining months of the season after the Qatari club were kicked out of the European club competition in the last 16 with a 3-0 defeat.
They took the lead on their trip to Brittany in the 37th minute when Carlos Soler followed up with a late goal. It’s Mbappe The shot was blocked by Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
But the home side, struggling to avoid being relegated, equalized just before half-time. to Franck Honorat and they look set to hold on for a crucial point in their fight to avoid relegation.
But Mbappe, who had just been booked for kicking Brest midfielder Haris Belkebla in the back of the calf, was sent on goal by. Lionel Messi and Bizot rounded to score.
Despite an unbelievable performance, the result allows PSG to extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to 11 points over nearest challengers Marseille.
“People can say it’s a small win but it’s a win. Not everything was perfect but we had a lot of chances and we shouldn’t let the fact that we need a win at the last minute to hide it,” said PSG coach Christophe Galtier in the announcement. Canal Plus.
“To come here and win three days after we were disappointed with Bayern is very important. We are fighting for the title. The story is obviously not good but the victory is the main thing.”
PSG, who are chasing their 11th French league title and ninth in the Qatar era, missed many players at the Stade Francis-Le Ble, including Neymar.
The Brazilian is recovering from surgery on ankle ligaments damaged in Doha and is not expected to play again this season.
Spanish international Soler was one of three players brought into the Paris lineup after Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat in the second leg of their tie with Bayern in Germany.
The former Valencia player almost opened the scoring early on, but his powerful shot from Messi’s assist was tipped onto the post by Bizot.
Soler then opened the scoring, only for Honorat to control a long ball forward by Romain Del Castillo and stop Sergio Ramos and Timothee Pembele before firing home the equaliser.
Bizot took a good save from Messi in the second half but the Dutch keeper was unable to stop Mbappe to score the winner as the French great took his tally for the season to 31 in all competitions for his club.
He is tied at the top of the Ligue 1 charts on 19 goals with Canadian Jonathan David, who scored a hat-trick for Lille in their 3-3 draw with Lyon on Friday.
Rennes, which is fifth, drew 0-0 at Auxerre in Saturday’s other game
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