Paris, January 16 (BNA): Kylian Mbappe’s 10th goal in the French Ligue 1 helped Paris Saint-Germain overcome a faltering start to a 2-0 win over Brest and move 11 points ahead of second-placed Nice.
Paris Saint-Germain was missing Lionel Messi as he continues to recover from the Corona virus, and he suffered early, according to the Associated Press.
Brest striker Irvin Cardona was lively and forced goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to make two smart saves.
Mbappe’s excellent form obliterated PSG’s flaws this season, curling a shot into the bottom corner of the penalty area in the 32nd minute.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti hit the post immediately after the first half, and left-back Nuno Mendes set up fellow defender Thelo Kahrer for a close-range shot in the 53rd minute.
Brest was thirteenth but ranked strongest.
Earlier, Saint-Etienne’s campaign took a turn for the worse when they conceded in injury time and lost at home to Lens 2-1.
Bas-Rock’s Saint-Etienne won just two games and lost 12, leaving four points behind 19th-placed Metz.
Captain Seiko Fofana brilliantly fired the ball five minutes into stoppage time to give fourth-placed Lens another late victory after an 88th-minute shot against Rennes last weekend.
Expulsion coach Claude Puel made little difference to Saint-Etienne, who was one of the most enjoyable teams in Europe during the Michel Platini era.
Boyle’s replacement, Pascal Debraz, saved Toulouse from relegation against the odds in 2017, and Saint-Étienne looked very bad this time around.