Agency :
Kylian Mbappe scored twice from Lionel Messi assists as an impressive Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) came from behind to beat Saint-Etienne 3-1 and further extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 Saturday.
Denis Bouanga put the struggling visitors in front at the Parc des Princes only for Mbappe to equalize just before the interval, and the France striker struck again just after the restart.
He then set up Danilo Pereira to head in the hosts’ third goal as Mauricio Pochettino’s team bounced back after losing 3-1 away at Nantes last weekend and moved 16 points clear of Nice and Marseille as they cruise towards the French title.
PSG were three goals behind at half-time against Nantes and they were punished for a slow start here, Gabon international Bouanga pouncing on a mistake by Pereira to fire past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Yet the home side eventually came to life and Mbappe continued his outstanding recent run of form, with his brace taking him on to 24 goals in all competitions this season.
He was withdrawn to a standing ovation late on at the Parc des Princes, where supporters kept themselves warm on a bitterly cold night by performing a Mexican wave as their team turned on the style.
Mbappe will now miss next weekend’s trip to Nice which will be followed by the second leg of PSG’s Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid in Spain on March 9.
There Paris will defend the 1-0 advantage given to them by Mbappe’s goal in the first leg.
Here he scored the equalizer three minutes before the interval, latching onto Messi’s excellent pass and firing in a shot that St-Etienne goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni should have saved.
Messi then produced another terrific pass for Mbappe to emphatically fire in two minutes after the restart to put the home side ahead.
The third goal then arrived in the 52nd minute as Mbappe delivered a superb cross with the outside of his right boot for Portuguese midfielder Pereira to head in, and PSG then came close to adding to their lead on several occasions.
Angel di Maria, on as a substitute, hit the post direct from a corner, while the lively Neymar and Georginio Wijnaldum also struck the woodwork late on.
