Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Lille – PSG claim win without Kylian Mbappe to go 11 points clear at top of Ligue 1

Kylian Mbappe was an unused substitute as Paris Saint-Germain moved 11 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 courtesy of a 3-1 home success over Champions League hopefuls Lille.

The absence of Luis Enrique’s side’s talismanic forward following concerns over an ankle issue initially looked to have given Lille the edge as they stole in front on six minutes when Yusuf Yazici slammed home after lovely skill on the right from Tiago Santos.

PSG responded immediately as an error by Alexsandro Ribeiro allowed Goncalo Ramos to sweep home before the Lille defender compounded a miserable start to his night by miscuing Fabian Ruiz’s cross into his own net on 17 minutes.

The home side continued to look the more likely in the second half, repeatedly catching Les Dogues playing out from the back, but Marco Asensio and Nordi Mukiele both failed to make the most of big opportunities.

PSG’s dominance was eventually reflected on the scoreboard 10 minutes from time when Randal Kolo Muani tapped in substitute Bradley Barcola’s cut back.

The result moves PSG 11 points clear of second-placed Nice having played a game more. Lille are four points further back in fourth spot having now played a game more than their nearest rivals Brest and Monaco.

PSG will now switch their attention to Wednesday’s Champions League last-16, first-leg clash with Real Sociedad prior to a trip to Nantes next Saturday. Lille host Le Havre.

With a 10th Ligue 1 title in the last 12 seasons – and a third in a row – looking very much on the cards, the annual quest to make the Champions League impact the Parisians crave so much enters the business end on Valentine’s Day next week.

Enrique’s men host La Liga side Sociedad aiming to move beyond the Last 16 for the first time in three seasons and, with that in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that they chose not to risk their star forward despite taking on one of their nearest rivals on the domestic scene.

Indeed, PSG have been knocked out in the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition in five of the last seven seasons and improving that stat is the priority as they once again showed they are a cut above the rest in France by moving well clear at the summit and extending their unbeaten run to 16 matches.

The French outfit did not need Mbappe to take care of Lille, but Enrique knows the 25-year-old is crucial to their outside push for Champions League glory on a stage where he also knows he will ultimately be judged.

The visiting keeper was kept busy and produced a series of top-class saves to keep his team competitive in what was largely a one-sided affair.

PSG: Navas 6, Mukiele 8, Pereira 7, Beraldo 7, Hernandez 7, Ugarte 7, Fabian 7, Asensio 7, Dembele 8, Kolo Muani 8, Ramos 7. Subs: Barcola 8, Vitinha 6, Hakimi 6, Zaire-Emery 6.

LILLE: Chevalier 8*, Santos 7, Yoro 6, Ribeiro 4, Ismaily 5, Zhegrova 6, Bentaleb 6, Gomes 6, Andre 6, Gudmundsson 6, Yazici 7. Subs: Ounas 6, David 6, Cabella 6, Haraldsson n/a.

06’ – GOAL! – PSG 0-1 Lille: (Yazici). Yazici takes advantage of some slack defending to rifle home from close range after a wonderful piece of skill allowed Tiago Santos to cut the ball back from the right byline.

10’ – GOAL! – PSG 1-1 Lille: (Ramos). It’s a simple tap-in from Ramos after Dembele caught Alexsandro Ribeiro playing out from the back and put it on a plate for his teammate.

17’ – GOAL! – PSG 2-1 Lille: (Alexsandro Ribeiro own goal). Fabian’s speculative, low cross from the right is wildly scuffed into his own net by Alexsandro Ribeiro. The Lille defender has had a nightmare start.

51’ – PSG CHANCE! Lille get caught just outside their own area again. Asensio is clean through but rushes his shot and rolls it straight at the keeper. It really should be three!

74’ – PSG CHANCE! Chevalier springs to his left to somehow keep out Kolo Muani’s 10-yard pile-driver.

81’ – GOAL! – PSG 3-1 Lille: (Kolo Muani). Barcola bamboozles his man down the left and then plays a wonderful ball into the six-yard box for Kolo Muani to tap home.