PARIS – Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting line-up for Paris Saint-German on Sunday and scored the opener in a 3-0 win at Nice which marks another step to recovery for the French champions.
The 21-year-old, who tested positive for coronavirus on September 7, was on target from the penalty spot in the 38th minute.
Angel di Maria added a second just before half-time and Marquinhos headed the third after 66 minutes. Mbappe thought he had scored a fourth late but it was ruled out for offside. He was replaced by Pablo Sarabia shortly after.
“I’m impressed by his performance after only one training session with the team,” said Coach Thomas Tuchel.
“He always shows that he can do extraordinary things and that he knows how to make a difference. It helps us a lot.”
It was a second successive Ligue 1 win for PSG who began the season still smarting from defeat in the Champions League final. They lost their opening two games and the second ended in a mass brawl against Marseille which led to the suspension of Brazilian forward Neymar.
With Marco Verratti also back, PSG rarely looked troubled in the sunshine of the Mediterranean.
When 19-year-old Khephren Thuram-Ulien clipped Mbappe’s ankle as the striker surged into the box, the French forward picked himself up to blast the ball high into the net.
Four minutes later, Nice almost levelled when PSG keeper Keylor Navas had to get down sharply to his left to beat away a shot from Rony Lopes.
Mbappe was back in the thick of it as the game entered stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Losing two defenders, Mbappe fired in a sharp shot which Nice keeper Walter Benitez did well to parry but only as far as the feet of Di Maria, who tapped in for 2-0.
PSG continued to control the game after the break and was rewarded with a third when Marquinhos got in front of the defence to head home.
Saint-Etienne just about held onto top spot in the table despite throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Nantes and end their perfect start to the new season.
Claude Puel’s side is level on 10 points with next weekend’s opponents Rennes after goals from Moses Simon in the 71st minute and Renaud Emond five minutes from time cancelled out Adil Aouchiche and Yvann Macon’s strikes for the away side.
Later, Valere Germain salvaged a late point Marseille in a 1-1 draw with Lille thanks to his 85th-minute equaliser.
Luiz Araujo had claimed a 47th-minute lead for the visitors at Stade Velodrome. – AFP, September 21, 2020
