Irreplaceable! Mbappe bags hat-trick as PSG crush Montpellier
A departing star exhibits his brilliance as he bids farewell to PSG with a stunning hat-trick performance in a commanding 6-2 victory over Montpellier, leaving a lasting impression of what the club will be without him.
Kylian Mbappe showcased his exceptional form for Paris Saint-Germain by netting a hat-trick and providing an assist in a resounding 6-2 triumph over Montpellier on Sunday.
More on the match
Throughout the game, the French forward's significance to the team was evident, even though PSG experienced a shaky period late in the first half despite their overall dominance.
PSG seemed to be cruising to victory after opening the scoring in the first fifteen minutes. Mbappe orchestrated the play, setting up Vitinha just outside the box, who effortlessly evaded a Montpellier defender before unleashing a powerful strike to put his team ahead.
The Parisians then capitalized on a swift counterattack, with Mbappe and Randal Kolo Muani combining effectively, resulting in Mbappe calmly slotting the ball into the net from a narrow angle.
Montpellier managed to reduce the deficit with a goal from Arnaud Nordin, and Wahbi Khazri had a promising opportunity to level the score, only for his shot to be cleared by Danilo. However, their equalizer arrived soon after when a poor pass from Danilo put Gianluigi Donnarumma under pressure, leading to a collision with Tanguy Coulibaly and a penalty awarded by the referee, which Teji Savanier confidently dispatched into the top corner.
Early in the second half, Mbappe rescued PSG once again with a superb strike from outside the box that soared over Dimitry Bertaud and ricocheted off the crossbar into the net. Shortly after, Lee Kang-in presented a challenge to Mbappe for the best goal of the game, executing a delightful one-two with Kolo Muani before curling a beautiful shot from long range.
However, the departing star Mbappe reclaimed the spotlight by completing his hat-trick with a lightning-fast run. Despite Montpellier's appeal for a penalty being denied by VAR, Vitinha set up Nuno Mendes for an exquisite goal, sealing the game at 6-2 in PSG's favor.
Mbappe as the MVP
At the peak of his brilliance, Mbappe exemplified the caliber that PSG will deeply feel the absence of once he departs on a free transfer. He delivered an outstanding performance from beginning to end, showcasing his exceptional talent in each of his three goals following his instrumental assist for the opener, thereby igniting the team's momentum.
The major loser.
PSG's center-back Pereira played a part in both of Montpellier's goals. His attempt to intercept a cross inadvertently redirected the ball to Nordin, who easily headed it in from close range. Although Pereira made a crucial clearance to thwart Khazri's attempt to equalize, his poor pass to Donnarumma ultimately led to the penalty incident.
PSG next game
What follows is PSG's 12-point lead over Brest at the summit of Ligue 1, and their objective will be to maintain that advantage as they resume domestic action against Marseille on March 31st.
