Two hat-tricks from Kylian Mbappé and Neymar allowed Paris Saint-Germain to easily win at Clermont (6-1) and take another step towards a tenth Ligue 1 on Saturday for the 31st day. Lionel Messi distinguished himself with three assists.
If it’s not a ramp-up, it looks very much like it. After his two goals against Lorient (5-1), the Brazilian Neymar did even better with a hat-trick (6th, 71st sp, 83rd), bringing his total to 10 league goals. He doubled his score in six days, throughout a season still plagued by injuries and doubts.
Doubts ? Mbappé does not know. After his double at the Parc the previous day, he also scored a hat-trick (15th, 74th, 80th), and alone took the lead in the scoring charts with 20 goals, overtaking Wissam Ben Yedder (18 goals).
Two corrections in one week: PSG overcame its post-elimination slump in the Champions League against Real Madrid.
Ramos in trouble
This new walk does not erase the European failure, but it brings Paris closer to the title, with 15 lengths ahead of Olympique de Marseille, which receives Montpellier on Sunday, and Rennes, winner in Reims (3-2).
With Sergio Ramos incumbent, for his seventh game of the season only, PSG did not really shake against Clermont, too unbalanced on Saturday evening and which only keeps one length on the barrage, Saint-Étienne. But the Auvergne club sabotaged its goal average, a bit like the Greens the day before in Lorient (6-2). The only downside, PSG still found a way to revive their opponent. On his first dangerous action, Clermont reduced the mark by Jodel Dossou (42nd). At the start of the action, Sergio Ramos was obliterated by Jason Berthomier’s small pass for Saïf-Eddine Khaoui, the center for Dossou.
But Clermont will only have hoped at the end of the first period. Paris was too strong.
PSG are better, Neymar is better, but it’s too late for Europe.
