Two missed penalties, a skied sitter and being taken off injured after just 21 minutes – Kylian Mbappe endured a nightmare evening as his Paris St-Germain side won at Montpellier.
The France striker had an early spot-kick saved and then – after a reprieve – saw his retake cannon off the post, only for him to fire the rebound over an empty net.
Mbappe limped off holding his hamstring soon after, less than a fortnight before PSG’s Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with Bayern Munich.
Speaking after the game, coach Christophe Galtier suggested the injury was down to a knock rather than a muscle problem.
“He took a knock to the back of the knee or the back of the thigh, so we’ll see,” said Galtier. “I’m not too worried. It’s a bruise or a contusion, we don’t know yet.
“With the run of matches we don’t want to take risks with a very busy fixture list, but it doesn’t appear that serious.”
Achraf Hakimi had an opener ruled out for the league leaders after the break before Fabian Ruiz broke the deadlock, poking home from close range.
Lionel Messi then slotted a second in from close range, after a first-half effort was ruled out for offside, before Arnaud Novin and Warren Zaire-Emery exchanged goals late on.
The win moves PSG five points clear at the top Ligue 1.
Line-ups
Montpellier
Formation 3-5-2
- 40Lecomte
- 4Kouyaté
- 6JullienBooked at 7mins
- 14Estève
- 77SackoSubstituted forTchato Mbiayiat 85′minutes
- 18LeroySubstituted forFerriat 63′minutes
- 13ChotardSubstituted forNordinat 83′minutes
- 11Savanier
- 27MaouassaSubstituted forFayadat 83′minutes
- 9GermainSubstituted forFayeat 62′minutes
- 10Mavididi
Substitutes
- 7Nordin
- 12Ferri
- 22Fayad
- 29Tchato Mbiayi
- 35Halhal
- 36Gueguin
- 39Faye
- 75Sakho
- 90Kamara
PSG
Formation 4-1-3-2
- 99G Donnarumma
- 2Hakimi
- 5Marquinhos
- 4RamosSubstituted forRenato Sanchesat 32′minutes
- 25Nuno MendesSubstituted forBernatat 70′minutes
- 15DaniloBooked at 11mins
- 28Soler
- 17VitinhaSubstituted forZaïre-Emeryat 70′minutes
- 8Ruiz
- 30Messi
- 7MbappéSubstituted forEkitikeat 21′minutes
Substitutes
- 14Bernat
- 16Rico
- 18Renato Sanches
- 29Pembélé
- 31Bitshiabu
- 33Zaïre-Emery
- 35Gharbi
- 37Housni
- 44Ekitike
- Referee:
- Jeremie Pignard
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Montpellier 1, Paris Saint Germain 3.
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Second Half ends, Montpellier 1, Paris Saint Germain 3.
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Attempt saved. Téji Savanier (Montpellier) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Carlos Soler (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Téji Savanier (Montpellier).
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Goal! Montpellier 1, Paris Saint Germain 3. Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Achraf Hakimi following a fast break.
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Attempt missed. Stephy Mavididi (Montpellier) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Téji Savanier.
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Goal! Montpellier 1, Paris Saint Germain 2. Arnaud Nordin (Montpellier) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stephy Mavididi.
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Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Christopher Jullien.
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Attempt blocked. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Renato Sanches.
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Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Renato Sanches with a through ball.
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Substitution, Montpellier. Enzo Tchato Mbiayi replaces Falaye Sacko.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match (Paris Saint Germain).
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Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Renato Sanches.
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Substitution, Montpellier. Khalil Fayad replaces Faitout Maouassa.
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Substitution, Montpellier. Arnaud Nordin replaces Joris Chotard.
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Foul by Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint Germain).
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Falaye Sacko (Montpellier) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Montpellier. Faitout Maouassa tries a through ball, but Stephy Mavididi is caught offside.
