Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will have to wait a bit longer to clinch the French league title despite Kylian Mbappe’s impressive performance in their 4-1 victory over Lorient on Wednesday. Mbappe’s brace and assist were not enough to spark title celebrations as second-place Monaco also secured a crucial 1-0 win over Lille later in the evening. With four games remaining, PSG holds an 11-point lead atop the standings. The defending champions can still secure their record-extending 12th French league title at home on Saturday against Le Havre. PSG remains on track for a treble of trophies in Mbappe’s final season with the club. They face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semifinals and Lyon in the French Cup final next month. In a clash between the league’s most potent attack and leaky defense, PSG winger Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring for the visitors in the 19th minute. Mbappe doubled the lead three minutes later, nonchalantly flicking Nuno Mendes’ cross into the far corner. The France forward then set up PSG’s third goal, dribbling past Nathaniel Adjei to square the ball back to Dembele, who tapped into an empty net. Mbappe sealed the win in the 90th minute with a curler into the far corner, solidifying his position as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals. “We had a good game, we were serious, we deserve the three points,” Dembele said after the match. “Now we must finish the job to be champions as quickly as possible.” Relegation-threatened Lorient managed a consolation goal with a powerful header from Mohamed Bamba, assisted by Benjamin Mendy in the 73rd minute. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma prevented a tense finish by saving a low strike from Lorient substitute Panos Katseris in the 80th minute. PSG coach Luis Enrique fielded a makeshift team that included academy players Senny Mayulu and Yoram Zague. Managing his players’ minutes, Enrique even left out Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Bradley Barcola, and Warren Zaire-Emery from the matchday squad. PSG has only lost one league game this season, which occurred back in September. Monaco’s victory extends their winning streak to four games, moving them six points clear of fourth-place Lille and closer to an automatic Champions League spot. France midfielder Youssouf Fofana scored the game’s lone goal in the 61st minute, securing the win for Monaco. Lille trails third-place Brest by one point and occupies the spot for the third qualifying round of the Champions League. In another Wednesday match, Marseille’s European hopes took a hit after a 2-2 draw with fifth-place Nice. Nigeria forward Terem Moffi put Nice ahead early on, but Marseille fought back to take the lead through Jonathan Clauss and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Nice left-back Melvin Bard equalized for the visitors in the 72nd minute. Marseille leapfrogged Lyon into eighth place, five points adrift of the last European spot. The three rescheduled games were intended to help PSG, Marseille, and Lille prepare for their upcoming European fixtures.
Mbappe Brace Helps PSG Edge Closer to Ligue 1 Title, Monaco Keeps Pressure
