Christopher Nkunku brace helps PSG sprint past last-placed Metz in Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain bounced back from their Champions League loss to Real Madrid by trouncing Ligue 1's bottom side Metz 5-0.

The last-16 defeat has led to speculation about manager Unai Emery's future, such is the importance of the Champions League to PSG these days, but they continued their march towards another domestic title.

Youngster Christopher Nkunku made it three goals in two games with a brace while Thomas Meunier, Kylian Mbappe and Thiago Silva also found the net.

PSG had to wait less than five minutes for the opening goal, Meunier finding the bottom corner after Mbappe's shot was blocked.

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Metz, who are seven points adrift, forced Alphonse Areola to make a save from Mathieu Dossevi's effort but it was not long before the hosts struck again, Nkunku clinically converting Marco Verratti's pass in the 20th minute.

Eight minutes later the 20-year-old struck again, this time from outside the box, and, after Angel Di Maria and Mbappe both went close, Metz's first-half misery was complete in injury time when Verratti set up Mbappe for the fourth.

The visitors at least managed to keep it to one in the second half, although it was not for the want of trying from PSG.

After Danijel Milicevic struck a shot wide for Metz, the assault of their goal continued. Eiji Kawashima denied Nkunku a hat trick from point blank range and then kept out Mbappe's effort.

Di Maria then shot wide and Presnel Kimpembe's header also missed the target before Kawashima was called upon again to foil Adrien Rabiot.

But Kawashima's resistance ended in the 82nd minute when Thiago headed in Giovani Lo Celso's corner, while Areola denied Emmanuel Riviere a late consolation.