Mbappé's Brace Steers PSG Past Resilient Brest
In a tight encounter at the Stade Francis Le Blé, Kylian Mbappé once again stole the show with a vital brace to lead Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to a thrilling 2-3 victory over a feisty Stade Brestois, on matchday 10 of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season.
Warren Zaïre-Emery opened the scoring for PSG in the 16th minute, but it was Mbappé's efforts in the 28th and 89th minutes that ensured PSG secured all three points. With this brace, the French superstar takes his tally to 10 goals for the season, running away from his closest competitor, Montpellier’s Akor Adams, who has netted 6.
Stade Brestois, however, refused to be mere spectators. Steve Mounié's strike just before half-time and Jéremy Le Douaron's header from a corner in the 52nd minute temporarily put the hosts on level terms with the Parisians. Mounié, particularly, was a menace throughout, attempting 7 shots – the highest by any Brest player this season in a single Ligue 1 match.
The turning point, however, came late in the game. A foul by Liliam Brassier allowed Mbappé to step up to the spot. Brest’s goalkeeper, Marco Bizot, expertly parried his initial penalty, but Mbappé was quickest to react, slotting in the rebound. The goal, though, was not without controversy as Mbappé was shown a yellow card for his exuberant celebration, taunting the home crowd.
This win propels PSG to second on the Ligue 1 table with a record of 6 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, totaling 21 points. On the other hand, Brest, despite a spirited display, dropped to the 6th spot with a record of 4-3-3 and 15 points.
Post-Game Insights:
R. Del Castillo was pivotal for Brest, assisting once in this game, taking his season tally to 3 – the most by any Brest player this season.
PSG’s attacking prowess is evident with their scoring in their last 3 Ligue 1 outings. They've managed a total of 9 goals in these three matches, showcasing their offensive might.
Brest's form has been a cause for concern. They have now failed to win in their last 4 Ligue 1 fixtures. The last time they had a longer winless streak was a run of 5 games from 1st February to 24th February 2023.
PSG, in contrast, are in prime form with three consecutive Ligue 1 wins. Their last similar streak was from 7th May to 21st May 2023.