MONTPELLIER: Kylian Mbappe scored his second hat-trick in Ligue 1 this season as leaders Paris St Germain won 6-2 at Montpellier on Sunday, securing their first league win in four matches.

PSG, with 59 points from 26 matches, extended their lead at the top over Brest to 12 points while Montpellier, with 26 points, remain one point above the relegation playoff spot.

Brest were earlier held 1-1 at home by Lille and are a point above third-placed AS Monaco, who were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Lorient. Lille are fourth with 43 points as they seek a Champions League spot, four points behind Brest.

Vitinha put PSG ahead at the Stade de la Mosson and Mbappe doubled their advantage midway through the first half, only for an Arnaud Nordin header and a Teji Savanier penalty to bring Montpellier back level at the interval.

However, a marvellous Mbappe goal restored PSG’s lead shortly after the break and Lee Kang-in made it 4-2 before the France captain completed his hat-trick.

Nuno Mendes put the seal on the victory late on, as Luis Enrique’s side ended a run of three successive draws in Ligue 1 and extended an unbeaten domestic record stretching back to September.

“I’m a lucky guy,” manager Luis Enrique told Prime Video. “Because I have unbelievable players with enormous quality and the spirit… to fight for every single game. We want to win the championship as quickly as possible.”

The defeat for Montpellier leaves them just a point above third-bottom Nantes, who are in the relegation play-off place and on Sunday sacked coach Jocelyn Gourvennec.

Jonathan David gave Lille the lead midway through the second half in Brittany with his 15th league goal of the season. However, that goal was not enough to win the game, as Uruguayan striker Martin Satriano poked in a late equaliser for Brest.

Struggling Lorient came away from Monaco with a precious point after Tiemoue Bakayoko headed in a 95th-minute equaliser.

Stade Rennais boosted their hopes of qualifying for Europe with a 2-0 win at home to Olympique de Marseille, as Martin Terrier put the hosts ahead in the first half and Benjamin Bourigeaud added a late penalty. Both sides are now three points adrift of the final European qualifying spot.

Japan star Junya Ito fired in a superb 79th-minute strike to give Reims a 2-1 win over Metz which keeps his club in the European picture.

Bottom side Clermont kept their outside survival hopes alive by beating Le Havre 2-1 with a brace from Muhammed Cham.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2024