Marseille 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Lionel Messi scores 700th career goal, Kylian Mbappe registers twice

Lionel Messi bagged the 700th goal of his professional career as Paris St-Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1. The World Cup winner was on target during the first half as his side breezed to a 3-0 victory at Marseille.

OM actually started brightly, and had much of the ball in the opening exchanges only to do little with it. Their two chances fell to Nuno Tavares, although a sublime Nuno Mendes tackle prevented one shooting opportunity when through one-on-one, while he skewed a further shot wide.

They were made to pay for not making that pressure count as the visitors scored two goals within four minutes, firstly as Kylian Mbappe fired home from Lionel Messi’s pass, before the striker turned creator for the Argentine, who tapped home from close range.

The pair then had further chances to increase the lead before the break, although both surprisingly missed from close range, but Mbappe made up for it in the second half when he completed a stunning team goal, converting from Messi’s chipped pass.

Visiting goalkeeper Donnarumma prevented Marseille from getting back into it as he made a superb save at point-blank range from Alexis Sanchez. That was pretty much as good as it got for Igor Tudor’s side, though, who slip to eight points behind PSG in the title race.

Talking point – Title race over?

There’s no doubt that PSG have been struggling since the World Cup thanks to losing three of their last eight league games, but this win feels like a decisive blow in the title race.

Perennial runners-up Marseille went into this fixture just five points behind their opponents in the table, that thanks to a run of nine wins in 11 outings, but they once again wilted when facing their arch rivals.

Indeed, those two goals within four first half minutes knocked the stuffing out of them, while PSG went from strength to strength, and Igor Tudor now has some work on his hands to lift his players after this confidence-sapping defeat.

Player of the match – Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

You run out of superlatives when trying to praise Mbappe, because there simply aren’t enough words to describe just how good he is.

This was another sensational display from the Frenchman, who caused Marseille no end of problems whenever he got the ball, attacking in a rapid and direct manner that the defence just couldn’t handle.

It wasn’t just his two goals that impressed, though, but also a sublime assist for Messi, showing his unselfish side and that there is more to his game than simply thundering into the back of the net.

Player ratings

Marseille: Lopez 7; Bailly 6, Balerdi 6, Kolasinac 5; Tavares 7, Veretout 6, Rongier 6, Under 5; Guendouzi 5, Malinovskyi 5; Sanchez 6. Subs: Clauss 6, Ounahi n/a, Vitinha n/a, Payet n/a

Subs: Blanco, Kabore, Elmaz

PSG: Donnarumma 8; Ramos 7, Marquinhos 7, Kimpembe 6; Nuno Mendes 7, Vitinha 7, Verratti 7, Fabian Ruiz 8, Mukiele 7; Messi 8, Mbappe 9. Subs: Danilo 7, Zaire-Emery 6, Bernat

Subs: Rico, Letellier, Pembele, Bitshiabu, Soler, Ekitike

Match highlights

12’ STUNNING NUNO MENDES TACKLE. Wow. That’s an unbelievable challenge. Nuno Tavares is through on goal for Marseille, but Nuno Mendes appears out of absolutely nowhere to stop him from getting the shot away and forcing the ball out for a corner.

25’ GOAL! MARSEILLE 0-1 PSG (Mbappe) Marseille have been doing all the attacking, but haven’t done anything with the ball. PSG win possession back and counter-attack at rapid pace, with Lionel Messi unleashing Mbappe, who slots into the bottom corner after racing into the box.

29’ GOAL! MARSEILLE 0-2 PSG (Messi). That is an absolute cracker. PSG double their lead as Mbappe puts it on a plate for Messi with a superb, low cross before the Argentine taps home after ghosting into the area unmarked.

55’ GOAL! MARSEILLE 0-3 PSG (Mbappe). That. Is. Sensational. What a goal. Ruiz drives through the centre of the field before pulling back to Messi, who chips a ball over the top for Mbappe to run on to. He finishes sumptuously, firing into the far corner. Stunning team goal.

65’ STUNNING DONNARUMMA STOP. What a save from the ‘keeper, who’s had little to do tonight. Sanchez meets a cross from the right and nods it goalwards, but Donnarumma dives down low to make a terrific stop from point blank range, before reacting brilliantly to claim the rebound.

Key stats

• Mbappe’s second goal of the night was his 200th for PSG – only Edinson Cavani has netted more times for the club
• Marseille concede three or more goals in successive home Ligue 1 games for the first time since April 2015