Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick and Gianluigi Donnarumma made six decisive saves to help Paris Saint-Germain win 3-0 at Reims on Saturday and move to the top of the French league.
PSG, which was second best for long spells in the Champagne city, was opportunistic and clinical in converting its chances.
Mbappe opened the scoring in just two minutes, volleying the ball from inside the box to fire a right-footed shot past Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf into the opposite corner.
Reims reacted immediately and thought it had leveled the scoring in the seventh minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Reims dominated the possession but PSG was the better team for the remainder of the first half. Donnarumma made two good saves from Junya Ito and a reflex save from Amir Richardson.
PSG doubled its lead in the 59th minute after a move started by Ousmane Dembele, who picked up Spain’s Carlos Soler who set up an easy finish for Mbappe.
Donnarumma produced two more excellent saves in the 72nd and 76th minutes and PSG was punished on the break one last time when Mbappe was picked out in the box by Bradley Barcola and took his time to conclude the move with his right foot.
Mbappe came close to adding a fourth goal with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that crashed onto the bar.
Donnarumma made a total of six saves in the match, the most by any goalkeeper in Ligue 1 this season.
PSG has now scored at least three goals in each of its last five league games. Previous leader Nice, the only team still unbeaten this season, was held to a 0-0 draw at midtable Montpellier on Friday.
Additional Data:
Kylian Mbappe has now scored 13 goals in just 11 Ligue 1 matches this season.
Mbappe’s hat-trick against Reims was his first of the season and the 14th of his career.
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s six saves against Reims was the most by any goalkeeper in a Ligue 1 match this season.
PSG has now won its last five league matches, scoring at least three goals in each game.
PSG is now one point ahead of Nice at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
