PARIS: Kylian Mbappe helped record 14-time champions Paris St-Ge­rmain avoid an embarr­assing slip-up with a 9-0 rout at sixth-tier amateurs Revel in the French Cup on Sunday.

Revel’s young supporters had implored Mbappe to make the trip to the game played at Castres — Revel’s humble stadium only has capacity for 2,000 fans in the Haute-Garonne south-western region — in a video posted on social media.

And they got their wish with the 25-year-old star included in manager Luis Enrique’s strong travelling party to the leaders of Regional 1, five rungs below the capital giants in the French league ladder.

Revel defender Maxence N’Gue­sson did get on the scoresheet but sadly for an own goal as the first half drew to a close.

PSG are hungry to add to their cup tally after missing out on the title in the past two seasons.

Olympique de Marseille also progressed from the round-of-64 with a narrow win at Thionville, the hosts four leagues below Pierre-Emerick Aubam­eyang’s 62nd minute shot making the difference.

Monaco also lived to fight another day but only after a 6-5 penalty shoot out win over Ligue 1 rivals RC Lens after the teams were locked at 2-2.

On Saturday, having travelled nearly 7,000km from the Caribbean island of Martinique, Golden Lion got a 12-0 mauling from Ligue 1 big guns Lille.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2024