Kylian Mbappe scored his first Paris Saint-Germain hat trick as part of a four-goal haul in a 5-0 thrashing of Lyon at Parc des Princes on Sunday. The defending champions set a new Ligue 1 record with a ninth consecutive win from their opening nine matches and also maintained their eight-point lead at the summit. Neymar opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half, while Presnel Kimpembe, as well as Lucas Tousart, saw red before half-time.
Positives
To win by such a convincing score against arguably the best footballing team aside from themselves is a bizarre achievement, but that is what happened. PSG were not as superior as the final score suggests, particularly in the first half, yet they took their chances and capitalised on Lyon's collapse when it came. Of particular note is the fact that the hosts once again maintained their intensity and hunger, having already scored a few times. Something is brewing under Thomas Tuchel.
Negatives
It might seem a bit ungrateful after a 5-0 win over one of the best teams in Ligue 1, but PSG could have been better against Lyon. The defence could and perhaps should have been punished more than once by the visitors, while the midfield missed Adrien Rabiot as chances to add further gloss to the score were missed.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- PSG went goal crazy, but it was not a perfect tactical match from Tuchel; Marquinhos is still far from convincing in midfield, while the defence still leaks chances. However, the players clearly believe in the German tactician's vision because the intensity and hunger on show were impressive once again.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Gianluigi Buffon, 7 -- Busier than you would expect from a glance at the score, he was forced to make a number of saves over the course of the game.
DF Thomas Meunier, 5 -- In difficulty at times, though not as often as Juan Bernat on the left, he could only watch as Neymar and Mbappe did most of the attacking.
DF Thiago Silva (c), 7 -- Bizarrely, one of the skipper's stronger performances because of the volume of chances enjoyed by Lyon and Presnel Kimpembe's first-half red card.
DF Presnel Kimpembe, 3 -- Solid up until his dismissal, it was a deserved expulsion and endangers his hopes of featuring against Marseille in Le Classique -- avoidable.
DF Juan Bernat, 4 -- Another tough night on the left, his struggles are a significant reason PSG continue to look unconvincing in defence.
MF Marco Verratti, 6 -- Formed a decent enough pairing with Marquinhos in midfield, though it lacks the balance of his combination with Adrien Rabiot and picked up a booking when things got heated toward the break.
MF Marquinhos, 5 -- Still continues to find midfield a difficult transition from defence, but he did grab an assist as Mbappe went nuts in front of goal.
FW Kylian Mbappe, 8 -- Despite his quadruple, once he warmed up, he still took a while to calibrate his finishing, and he could and perhaps should have finished with more than the four he got -- a scary thought. His relationship with Neymar went to a whole new level once Edinson Cavani was substituted as Tuchel sought balance after Kimpembe's red card.
FW Neymar, 8 -- Aside from a booking, it was another balanced performance. He might have finished with only one goal (a penalty) and an assist each, but he created much more than that, and Mbappe's wasteful finishing at times denied him tangible proof of that creativity.
FW Angel Di Maria, 4 -- Found it tough going after Kimpembe's dismissal as he moved into midfield, it was a surprise that he lasted 82 minutes until he was replaced by Moussa Diaby, but Tuchel is not exactly flush with midfield options.
FW Edinson Cavani, 5 -- The unlucky victim of Kimpembe's red card, he did not even make it until half-time, and it was still a contest when he left the pitch.
Substitutes
DF Thilo Kehrer, 6 -- Solid enough in Kimpembe's place, he looks more comfortable now than he did in his earlier outings.
MF Julian Draxler, NR -- Given 16 minutes at the end in place of Verratti, his teammates had already pulverised Lyon in terms of goals.
FW Moussa Diaby, NR -- Sent on for the final eight minutes in Di Maria's place, he perhaps could have been introduced sooner to lessen the Argentina international's struggles.