Four passes. Eight seconds. One goal. Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain almost immediately found the net at the start of its 7-1 victory over Lille to extend its perfect start in the French Ligue 1 2022-23 on Sunday. (More Football News)
Lionel Messi hit the ball over the top for Kylian Mbappe, who cleverly sent the ball over goalkeeper Leo Jardim to claim the joint-fastest goal in the history of the French league. The French league tweeted that Mbappe’s goal ties midfielder Michel Rio who also needed just eight seconds to score for Caen against Cannes in 1992.
Neymar got two goals and three assists as PSG moved to three wins from three games, two points clear of Marseille and Lens in the standings. Messi added a second goal in the 28th minute by combining with Nuno Mendes before guiding the ball into the bottom corner.
Neymar fed Morocco international Achraf Hakimi for the third goal in the 39th. The Brazil striker then pounced on a deflected pass from Messi to make it 4-0 with a powerful low strike in the 44th.
Hakimi set up Neymar for the fifth goal in the 52nd after a dummy from Mbappe. Neymar then picked out Mbappe, who shot past Jardim from a tight angle in the 66th for a 6-1 lead. Mbappe completed his hat trick by controlling a long pass from Neymar to score with a shot at the near post in the 87th.
Mbappe and Neymar showed no signs of animosity after arguing over penalty duties in the 5-2 win over Montpellier the previous weekend.
The France striker was in a good position to take his chance in the eighth minute but selflessly opted to slip the ball to Neymar, who shot wide. Neymar also played a one-two with Mbappe in the 22nd but was dispossessed by Alexsandro.
Mbappe then collected a through ball from Neymar in the 25th and rounded Jardim only to hit the side-netting. Lille winger Jonathan Bamba scored a consolation goal by converting a rebound in the 54th.
BALOGUN SCORES AGAIN
Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun scored his third goal in as many games by equalizing in the 81st for Reims in a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg. Strasbourg and Reims are still winless with two points and one point, respectively. Rennes, Brest and Auxerre earned their first wins of the league season.
Rennes beat Ajaccio 2-1 with goals from Martin Terrier in the 18th and Arthur Theate in the 62nd. Terrier, who opened his account, was the third most prolific scorer in the league last season behind Mbappe and Wissam Ben Yedder.
Brest striker Jeremy Le Douaron netted twice in a 3-1 win at Angers. Promoted Auxerre rallied past Montpellier 2-1 in a bad-tempered game where both teams finished with nine players. Mathias Autret got the winner with a spot kick in the 75th.
Nice remained winless after losing 1-0 at Clermont. Tunisia international Saif-Eddine Khaoui scored with a first-time effort in the sixth minute. Nice players Mario Lemina and Jean-Clair Todibo were sent off in the second half.
Lorient substitute Ibrahima Kone converted a late penalty to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw with promoted Toulouse.
