Paris keep the run going

Four days after their impressive display against Galatasaray, Paris Saint-Germain were hoping to reproduce it on the domestic front when they travelled to Saint-Étienne. Denis Bouanga's early shot (4') warned the visitors they had to be on their mettle, and they responded in kind. With Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé teaming up effectively, the home defence was often stretched, and they broke when Thomas Meunier provided a cross for Leandro Paredes to score his first Paris Saint-Germain goal with a crisp volley that took a deflection en route past Stéphane Ruffier (0-1, 10').

The hosts' compact rearguard almost buckled under the pressure of the visitors' formidable attacking quartet, and Mbappé thought he had added a second only for the offside flag to be raised (13'). Instead, a dangerous tackle from Jean-Eudes Aholou on Paredes tipped the balance of power decisively in the Rouge-et-Bleu's favour (25').

With a man advantage, the Parisians laid siege to Ruffier's goal while Thiago Silva and Marquinhos kept the hosts at bay, snuffing out the danger posed by Bouanga (32') and Arnaud Nordin (34') respectively. It was Marquinhos who started the move that led to Neymar Jr teeing up Mbappé to add a second just before the break (2-0, 43').

Claude Puel's side sought to up the tempo after the restart. Bouanga was denied by Keylor Navas (48') and the Parisians regained control as Neymar (53'), Angel Di Maria, who struck a post (55'), and Mbappé all had chances (57') before Neymar also found the woodwork from the penalty spot (61'). 

The victory was secured when Mauro Icardi finished off Layvin Kurzawa's cross after the full-back had been given the time and space to pick out his man by Neymar's ball (0-3, 73'). Mbappé added a fourth - from yet another Neymar pass - (0-4, 89') as the Parisians, who had 21 shots, strengthened their hold on top spot in the table.