Kylian Mbappe scored a brace inside the opening seven minutes before Lionel Messi netted either side of Club Brugge consolation to seal the win for PSG.
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Paris Saint-Germain defeated Club Brugge 4-1 in the final Champions League group-stage fixture at Parc des Princes on Wednesday. Kylian Mbappe scored an early double before Lionel Messi netted either side of a Bruges consolation. Mats Rits beat PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to pull one back for the visitors after creating several good chances. PSG went into the match assured of a place in the last 16 behind Manchester City, who had already won the group. Meanwhile RB Leipzig defeated Manchester City to secure the third position and a spot in the Europa League.
Mbappe opened the scoring inside the opening 72 seconds. The Frenchman played a give-and-go with Nuno Mendes on the left-flank before the latter’s cross was palmed into the path of Mbappe by visiting goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The 22-year-old slotted the ball into the far bottom corner with a brilliant right-foot effort.
Two minutes later, Georginio Wijnaldum was played through by Angel di Maria but the Dutchman dragged his shot wide of goal. However, in the seventh minute, Mbappe put the game to bed with his second of the night. Once again, it was Di Maria, who played a brilliant overhead ball that found Mbappe in front of goal. The youngster slotted home with a first time right-foot volley.
It was Mbappe’s 31st Champions League goal, passing the 30-goal landmark at the age of 22 years and 352 days to surpass Messi, who was 23 years and 131 days when he reached that target.
Meanwhile the visitors were also creating good chances at the other end. Hans Vanaken slid the ball through for Charles De Ketelaere on the right side of the penalty area, but the latter’s shot was saved by Donnarumma at the near post.
Mbappe was involved in PSG’s third goal, although it was a vintage Messi goal. The Frenchman nutmegged his defender and raced away down the left flank on the counter attack before playing the ball to Messi at the other side. The 34-year-old cushioned Mbappe’s pass perfectly, before cutting inside, shifting the ball to his favored left foot and dispatched it beyond a helpless Mignolet and into the bottom corner.
Messi’ brace
Mbappe could have scored a first half hat-trick as he was played through by a brilliant overhead ball from Messi. But he shot the ball over the crossbar with only the goalkeeper in front of him.
After the break, Noa Lang cut inside from the left and forced a save out of Donnarumma at the near post. And then, the Belgian side deservedly got a goal with breakaway move in the 68th minute. Lang laid the ball to Rits on the right side of the box and the Belgian midfielder placed the ball past the goalkeeper and into the far bottom corner.
14 minutes from time, Messi completed his brace from the penalty spot. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner earned the spot-kick after being fouled inside the box. He stepped up and converted the spot kick to complete the drubbing. It was a landmark 758th career goal, surpassing Pele’s official total.
The win helped PSG to 11 points from 6 games in Group A, one behind Manchester City, who lost 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena.
