Mbappe hat trick, Falcao brace as Monaco thrash Metz 5-0

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Teenager Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick as Monaco thrashed Metz 5-0 to move clear again at the Ligue 1 summit.

Radamel Falcao added Monaco's other two goals as the prolific pacesetters restored their three-point advantage over Paris Saint-Germain, who beat Bordeaux 3-0 on Friday night.

The win also extends Monaco's unbeaten run to seven games in Ligue 1, six of which have ended in victory, but the result was marred by an injury to home forward Gabriel Boschilia, who was carried off in a stretcher in the second half.

Metz struggled to get into the game from the off and Monaco's front pairing of Falcao and Mbappe were soon causing problems for the visiting defence, with both having chances early on.

They could not take advantage of them, but the hosts still only needed eight minutes to open the scoring. Falcao headed down a cross and Mbappe was given time to pick his shot and slot the ball past Thomas Didillon.

Just two minutes later Monaco doubled their lead when Falcao got in front of his marker to turn the ball in.

Metz, who lost 7-0 at home to Monaco in October, failed to have a shot on target in the first half and the game was as good as over by the 20-minute mark when Mbappe struck his second of the night.

The 18-year-old got on the end of Fabinho's through ball and coolly slotted in his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.

Metz came out after half-time looking like they had a point to prove and had a chance early on, but Florent Mollet's shot went wide.

Normal service was resumed after that as Monaco soon began to dominate again, with Metz struggling to keep hold of possession.

Mbappe secured his hat trick in the 50th minutes when he was found unmarked by a pinpoint cross from Boschilia.

With Metz starting to tire, the hosts put their foot on the gas and continued to press and it was 5-0 in the 55th minute when Falcao struck his second of the evening, and 22nd of the season.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy crossed the ball into the area and the Colombia star timed his run to perfection to slot the ball into the back of the net.

An otherwise great night for Monaco took a turn for the worse in the 65th minute when Boschilia went down injured. Metz defender Jonathan Rivierez was cautioned for the challenge on Boschilia, which led to the 20-year-old midfielder being taken out of the stadium on a stretcher.

With the three points secured for Monaco, 19-year-old Irvin Cardona was awarded his senior debut for the club and he came close to scoring in stoppage time but his shot skimmed over the crossbar.