May 21, (THEWILL) – Kylian Mbappe was in scintillating form as Paris Saint-Germain edged closer to claiming the Ligue 1 title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Auxerre.
The French forward showcased his prowess by netting two goals within the opening eight minutes at Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps. Auxerre fought back in the second half, with Lassine Sinayoko finding the back of the net, but it was not enough to deny PSG the win.
The beleaguered Lionel Messi was involved when Mbappe pulled the trigger for the second goal from 20 yards out, with a magnificent first-time strike. Messi, in his usual calculated effort threaded the pass through a clever dummy by Hugo Ekitike to assist in the eighth minute goal to put PSG 2-nil up. They did not find the net again after that but PSG held on to secure a crucial victory.
The reigning champions reestablished their six-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table, putting them on the brink of successfully defending their crown. With just two games remaining, PSG now require a mere point to secure the title. However, Auxerre’s hopes of survival took a hit as they suffered their first defeat in eight home matches, leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone in 16th place.
PSG’s next match sees them travel to Strasbourg on Saturday, where a draw will be enough to secure the Ligue 1 title, while Auxerre aims to bolster their survival hopes away at Toulouse on the same day.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
