Paris, April 16 (BNA): Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi scored first-half goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat 10-man Lens 3-1 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, taking nine points at the top of Ligue 1.
Lens, still in second place but with a badly challenged challenge, sent Sallis Abdel Samad a straight red card in the 19th minute after a tackle fumbled the ball but Achraf Hakimi cut his ankle.
Paris Saint-Germain responded quickly, and the champions took advantage to score three goals in 9 minutes, according to Reuters.
France striker Mbappe made a breakthrough in the 31st minute when he hit a rebound from Vitinha outside the post.
The goal made him Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time top scorer in the league, taking his tally to 139 and one more goal scorer than Edinson Cavani.
Vitina made it 2-0 six minutes later with a long-range screamer that left Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba with no time to react.
Then Messi entered the match in the 40th minute after Mbappe of Argentina turned his heel into a tight shot and put Paris Saint-Germain ahead 3-0 at half-time.
Lens responded in the second half with a consolation goal from the penalty spot on the hour, and Polish winger Przymyslaw Frankowski calmly stepped forward to send Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.
WWA