Kylian Mbappe scored and got here via unscathed together with fellow Paris Saint-Germain stars Lionel Messi and Neymar of their closing match earlier than the World Cup, a 5-0 Ligue 1 rout of Auxerre on Sunday. PSG coach Christophe Galtier opted to not relaxation the attacking trio towards the Burgundy facet because the champions sought to increase their lead on the prime of the desk earlier than the break for the event in Qatar. And Mbappe scored the opener after 11 minutes in Paris for his twelfth league purpose this season after good work by Messi, Moroccan Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.

Carlos Soler nodded within the second after 51 minutes after which arrange Hakimi for the third six minutes later. Renato Sanches and Hugo Ekitike added two extra within the closing ten minutes.

The Parisians transfer 5 factors forward of Lens, who received 2-1 at dwelling towards Clermont on Saturday, with Rennes an additional 5 factors adrift in third.

For their closing match earlier than the World Cup, the MNM trio — Messi, Neymar, Mbappe — took to the pitch however didn’t actually sparkle in a sport performed with out nice depth.

The apathy of the magic trio didn’t, nonetheless, stop the champions giving an illustration of their goal-scoring prowess earlier than an enormous break till their subsequent Ligue 1 match on December 28 towards Strasbourg.

Mbappe’s early purpose following a stupendous cross from Messi relayed by Mendes, appear to anaesthetize the Parisian forwards.

No query of taking the slightest danger for the World Cup gamers in a event which may very well be the ultimate one for veterans Messi and Neymar.

Kimpembe return

If Messi made an effort and even discovered the publish with a curled shot from the left after 66 minutes, Neymar measured his tempo, collapsing on the slightest contact and taking part in in gradual movement, with none depth, removed from flamboyance of his first a part of the season.

Before Paris pulled forward within the second half, Auxerre proved harmful on entrance of Gianluigi Donnarumma‘s purpose with makes an attempt by Mbaye Niang (16) and Lassine Sinayoko (21) to get the equaliser for the facet who sit fifteenth in Ligue 1.

Galtier gave some taking part in time to French defender Presnel Kimpembe, who got here on for the ultimate quarter of an hour having spent a month out with an Achilles tendon damage.

It was excellent news for the France workforce and Didier Deschamps 9 days earlier than the Blues open their World Cup defence towards Australia on November 22.

His arrival coincided with the exits of Messi and Neymar after 74 minutes, not sad for as soon as to go away the sector prematurely.

Messi, who tasted glory within the Copa America final yr, might be hoping to fireside Argentina to World Cup glory for the primary time since 1986.

Mbappe might be one of many key gamers for defending champions France in Qatar and Neymar will spearhead Brazil’s push for a sixth World Cup crown.

Promoted

The event begins with a match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador on November 20.

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