PSG close in on Ligue 1 title with win over Lorient
Luis Enrique switched his side up once again with a busy schedule including a Champions League semi-final against Dortmund on the horizon. The Spaniard gave starts to Yoram Zague in defence and Senny Maylulu in midfield, with Kylian Mbappé wearing the captain's armband at Stade du Moustoir.
With Monaco facing LOSC Lille later in the evening, Enrique's men knew that a win could seal the Ligue 1 Uber Eats title depending on the result of the later game. Meanwhile, Lorient were desperate for points as the battle to stay up tightens even further as the season reaches its' climax.
Les Merlus managed to soak up the initial pressure coming from the French capital club, and even managed to cause some problems through Eli Junior Kroupi's and Ayman Kari's high pressing. The first clear-cut chance came to the home side, as Imran Louza was played in-behind on the right side, but the following shot via Ayman Kari was just wide of the mark following a low cross (11'). The home side was by far the more dynamic side in the first 15 minutes, but Kylian Mbappé let off a warning shot on target, which didn't trouble Mvogo between the sticks for Lorient.
PSG clinical in front of goal
Ousmane Dembélé would then clinically open the scoring for PSG, picking up the ball on the left side and driving at the Lorient defence – finally letting off a low strike which breezed past the goalkeeper (20'). Just like that, PSG opened up the home side with ease at first gear. The second goal for Les Parisiens came shortly after, this time Kylian Mbappé set off Nuno Mendes down the right side with a lofted ball, and flicked the returning low cross with the heel of his right boot for his 25th goal of the season so far (22').
Les Merlus would get close to responding with a goal with several chances before the break, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was up to the task to keep them at bay, especially with a fantastic save from an Adjei header.
Confident of a couple of chances near the end of the first half, the second period saw the home side try and get on the ball and generate some half-chances through Kroupi and Ponceau, but Donnarumma wasn't troubled enough. Lorient couldn't hold off Les Parisiens any longer by the hour mark, as Mbappé's silky skills from the left would leave Isaac Touré stunned as the France captain simply breezed past his marker and provided a square ball for Ousmane Dembélé to put a third goal past the hosts (60').
Kylian Mbappé even had the chance to get on the scoresheet once more, but his strike from a tight angle was tipped onto the bar by Mvogo. Yet, Lorient would get one back through Mohamed Bamba, who was recently substituted onto the pitch – the Ivorian headed home a perfect cross from Benjamin Mendy to give the home side hope of getting themselves back into the game.
Any hope of a comeback from Les Merlus was extinguished as the Mbappé brothers combined well for Kylian to grab his brace late on. 4-1 against Barcelona, 4-1 against Lyon, and now 4-1 against Lorient as Les Parisiens keep up their positive momentum and close in on a historic 12th title triumph in the league.
THE STAT
Kylian Mbappé has now scored his 43rd goal in official competition with PSG this season after his brace - his best tally yet with the club. He also became the first Ligue 1 Uber Eats player to reach at least 25 goals four seasons in a row.
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