PSG has already reached the knockout stage of the Champions League and in their last round match, the French club defeated Club Brugge 4-1 (match score). Kylian Mbappe gave the home team a 1-0 lead after a cameo attack from the right. The 22-year-old doubled his numbers with a brilliant volley in the seventh minute after Angel Di Maria passed the defence.
Amazed by the fierce first 10 minutes, the Belgian guests began to return to the game, but they were always vulnerable to Paris Saint-Germain’s fearful counterattack and Lionel Messi did not have much time to enter the game.
Mbappe turned into an architect this time, kicking the ball between a defender’s legs before the game passed to Messi. What happened next seemed almost inevitable, with the Argentine chopping off his left leg and passing his attempt to Simon Mignolet.
The pair scored PSG’s fourth in the first half, but Mbappe failed to put his shot under the bar after Messi was missed. It looked like PSG got their foot in the door in the second half, giving Club Brugge a chance to return to the game. Mats Rits made a good effort on the right, but his volley flew wide at 68 minutes into the game.
Mbappe and Messi began overtaking and were later awarded penalties after being packed inside the box. Despite the fact that Mbappe had a hat-trick, it was Messi himself who made a move to restore PSG’s three-goal advantage and score second in the game.
The Champions League remains PSG’s biggest goal this season and despite not finishing on top of every game and Neymar’s injury, the match was a reminder of the star-studded side’s attacking abilities. The Parisians will certainly face heavy challenges in the later rounds, but few teams will feel confident in this form against Messi and Mbappe.
