Montpellier 2-6 Paris Saint-Germain: Kylian Mbappe scores hat-trick as Luis Enrique's side close on title

A rampant Paris Saint-Germain routed Montpellier 6-2 in Ligue 1 as Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant hat-trick.

The reigning champions, who look on course to secure their 12th league title, ended a three-game winless streak in Ligue 1 and moved 12 points ahead of second-placed Brest.

Vitinha, Lee Kang-in and Nuno Mendes also scored for PSG.

Having drawn three straight Ligue 1 games prior to tonight's clash, PSG looked set to add a fourth to that run at half-time.

After racing out to a two-goal lead through Vitinha and Mbappe, the former of which was a tour de force on the dishevelled Stade de la Mosson pitch, the champions let Montpellier back into the game by conceding twice.

Arnaud Nordin had looked dangerous for the opening 30 minutes in brief bursts before scoring his side's first, before Teji Savanier added a controversial penalty shortly before half-time.

It was a state of carelessness that has become much too common for Luis Enrique's side this season.

But clearly incensed by the penalty call which was given for a foul by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG completely dominated the second half with a vicious level of authority. Mbappe nabbed his hat-trick, the second goal being a strike of phenomenal quality from outside the box.

Lee Kang-in followed it up with a superb left-footed -goal of his own that left Dimitry Bertaud helpless. The goalkeeper was in fact powerless to stop PSG for the entirety of the second half, and Montpellier's midfield and defence were equally incapable by this point.

From there PSG saw out the game in assertive style. Mbappe scored his third with a fine run and finish, and then 21-year-old Nuno Mendes slipped into the box on the underlap and fired past Bertaud.

It is an incredibly obvious point to make, but Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid at the end of this season will leave PSG and Ligue 1 without their most unique selling point.

Ligue 1, which is competing with the likes of La Liga, Serie A and the Premier League for global attention, loses their most important star and a player responsible for so many of the league's best moments.

The Frenchman's hat-trick tonight saw him edge closer to 40 goals for this season, and he did it with a flair and style that will remind the Ligue 1 higher ups that, without him, their pockets will simply be smaller.

The league, and those who watch it, should lap up every moment of the 25-year-old for the rest of this season because when he leaves, he leaves having changed this league forever.

Vitinha arguably deserved it just as much, possibly more depending on what you value from a player, but there's no way you cannot give Mbappe his flowers after a stunning hat-trick.

His contributions mean PSG look set to win a fourth league title in the past five seasons, and he could even propel them to European glory as his side face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

PSG: Donnarumma 5, Hernandez 6, Beraldo 4, Danilo 4, Hakimi 7, Lee Kang-in 7, Ugarte 6, Vitinha 9, Mbappe 9, Kolo Muani 6, Barcola 5

Subs: Mendes 7, Mukiele 6, Zaire-Emery 6, Mayulu 6, Ramos 7.

Montpellier: Bertraud 3, Omeragic 4, Tchato 4, Mincarelli 5, Kouyate 4, Savanier 6, Ferri 5, Leroy 5, Coulibaly 7, Nordin 7, Khazri 5

Subs: Fayad 5, Jullien 4, Sacko 4, Adams 5, Tamari 5

14’ GOAL! Montpellier 0-1 PSG | VITINHA
A fabulous finish from Vitinha who is afforded way too much room outside of the Montpellier box. He jinks by a few defenders before striking into the bottom right corner and Dimitry Bertaud has no chance.

22’ GOAL! Montpellier 0-2 PSG | MBAPPE
Mbappe doubles his side's lead with a brilliant. The forward shared passes with Kolo Muani on the counter and the Parisian nabs his 22nd league goal of the season with ease.

30’ GOAL! Montpellier 1-2 PSG | NORDIN
Nordin has been threatening PSG consistently throughout this game and a sloppy PSG defence leave him in plenty of space at the back post to head home. Game on.

45' GOAL! Montpellier 2-2 PSG | SAVANIER
Savanier rockets it into the top left corner and Donnarumma, who went the right way, no chance.

50' GOAL! MONTPELLIER 2-3 PSG | MBAPPE
An INSANE finish from Mbappe, who is left in WAY too much space by the Montpellier defence. From outside the box, he strikes it over the Montpellier keeper and it dips just under the bar to gift his side the lead again.

53' GOAL! MONTPELLIER 2-4 PSG | KANG-IN
Another top, top strike from PSG. Lee Kang-in viciously strikes it off his favoured left foot from outside the box and Bertaud is helpless.

62' GOAL! MONTPELLIER 2-5 PSG | MBAPPE
And that's his hattrick. He latches onto a beautifully lofted ball from Vitinha and rockets home to capture his third goal of the game. Poor Bertaud has had no chance with any of Mbappe's finishes tonight, simply unstoppable.

89' GOAL! MONTPELLIER 2-6 PSG | MENDES
And there's the cherry on top of this dominant performance. A perfectly weighted pass from Vitinha finds Mendes on the underlap and the left-back finishes superbly.

Tonight was Mbappe's 200th Ligue 1 game, and his hat-trick means he's now been involved in more than 450 goals for club and country - 323 goals and 130 assists.

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