“You have to a protect us,” implored an increasing irked Kylian Mbappé to the referee as he picked himself up from another forceful challenge. Newly promoted Nîmes had made a point of pressing the Ligue 1 champions aggressively in midfield and ruffling as many Parisian feathers as possible. Mbappé, however, saw their tactics differently. With less than 20 minutes on the clock, he was already booked for protesting, with Neymar having to lead the 19-year-old away from the referee for fear of further punishment. Mbappé’s ire did little more than simmer, however, and in injury time – after his thunderous finish had won the game for PSG – he reacted aggressively to a trip from Nîmes midfielder Taji Savanier and was dismissed for the first time in his Ligue 1 career.
Mbappé’s red card ended what had been a rumbustious Saturday afternoon in southern France. Amid a boisterous first half, Les Crocodiles’ support providing a fevered atmosphere, Neymar had given PSG the lead, celebrating with pretend tears in front of a sign reading “Neymar is a cry baby.” Ángel Di María’s audacious effort direct from a corner put PSG 2-0 up and seemingly beyond reach but Nîmes continued to press. Antonin Bobichon pulled one back with a curling 20-yard shot on the hour before Thiago Silva’s clumsy challenge gave Savanier a chance to equalise from the spot.
As confidence swelled at the Stade des Costières, last season’s Ligue 2 runners up seemed favourites to score the fifth goal. Mbappé, however, emphatically ended any burgeoning belief as he motored on to Presnel Kimpembe’s long ball over full-back Gaëtan Paquiez’s shoulder and crashed home. Edinson Cavani made the game safe before Mbappé’s red card. Savanier followed Mbappé off, somewhat harshly, for his trip.
L’Équipe’s front cover on Sunday morning depicted the two sides of Mbappé’s game. His typically exacting winner had followed a superb volley against Angers and two goals off the bench to beat Guingamp, but there are increasing concerns over his more petulant side. The disarming grin shown during his breakthrough year at Monaco as Leonardo Jardim’s men gloriously ambushed PSG to win the French title has been seen less frequently since his arrival in Paris last summer. Similar treatment, in the youngster’s opinion, during a Coupe de la Ligue tie with Rennes last season, also led to a red card, as Mbappé scrapped his studs down Ismaila Sarr’s calf.
Flashes of frustration with referees and opposition players have become increasingly common, feeding into a sense that antagonising Mbappé is a worthwhile ploy – a scenario in stark contrast to how Mbappé was perceived when he first emerged: as a mature, even-tempered and down-to-earth young professional. While it would too soon to revise those ideas, he has not reacted well to negative attention since.
There continues to be an underlying sense that the move to PSG may have played a part in his slight shift in attitude. Since the QSI takeover in 2011, exacerbated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s unique brand of cockiness, Parisian entitlement has become a central theme at the Parc des Princes. Adrien Rabiot’s refusal to be listed as one of Didier Deschamps reserves for the World Cup and Dani Alves claiming he “couldn’t tell you a name of a single Marseille player” before last season’s opening Classique are other instances of a haughty confidence becoming something worse.
Mbappé’s relationship with Neymar, which will remain a fascinating subplot to this Ligue 1 campaign – with the Brazilian very aware he could be quickly surpassed in importance to the Paris project – also colours Mbappé’s actions. The two are seemingly good friends and the worry is that Neymar’s partying, playboy image may prove a negative influence on Mbappé in much the same way Pep Guardiola feared Ronaldinho’s similar persona might have adversely affected Lionel Messi as he emerged at Barcelona – supposedly a key reason for Ronaldinho being cut loose.
Neymar, however, is seven years older than Mbappé and could yet prove himself positive influence on the teenager. Having led Mbappé away from the referee and comically sent up those “cry baby” jibes, at full-time he was approached by a young fan who ran out from the front row. Neymar put his arm around the boy, chatted to him and gave him his shirt, before carrying the somewhat overwhelmed child back to the stands while being roundly cheered by Nîmes fans for his good grace.
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This is absolutely wonderful from Neymar – the kid is in tears of joy. pic.twitter.com/GuLYNjzSj5
Nearly a year on from Neymar’s own puerile dismissal in Le Classique, in very similar circumstances after Lucas Ocampos’ trip, it seems he has learned some lessons. Mbappé, although still very early in his career, has to prove he can do the same. He apologised later, saying: “You have to learn when you play this type of team and to be above it because it is like this every weekend, so if I get annoyed every weekend I will receive a lot of red cards.” Worryingly for Thomas Tuchel, however, Mbappé then told reporters: “It was that last tackle. I am not going to linger on it but I think it had no place on a football pitch… If I had to do it again, I would.”
Ligue 1 talking points
• It has taken Nantes some time to really get their season started but, after their win over Strasbourg on Saturday, it feels as if Miguel Cardoso’s ideas are starting to take hold. Emiliano Sala thrived in his first start of the season, scoring his third goal in four matches, and Majeed Waris and Lucas Evangelista both looked dangerous in wide areas. Strasbourg made things nervier than Nantes would have liked but, having kept defenders Lucas Lima and Diego Carlos in the face of strong interest from abroad, Les Canaris could yet have a say in the battle for the top six.
• Things were hardly as rosy for another side hoping to reinvent themselves though, as Lille lost 1-0 to 10-man Angers. We lauded Christophe Galtier’s exciting side after their impressive opening win and last week’s thrashing of Guingamp looked to be more of the same, but the late departures of Lebo Mothiba and Yassine Benzia have left this team shorn of a hard-working physical presence and an inventive passer of the ball. Jonathan Ikoné is an intriguing talent but has nowhere near the creativity of Benzia; the skill of Jonathan Bamba and Nicolas Pepé on the wings will surely be wasted unless Galtier can find an internal replacement (Luiz Araujo? Rui Fonte?) for the former Lyon man.
• Finally, credit to Toulouse, who won their third straight fixture to move third. The team looked set to struggle after the departures of Alban Lafont and Issa Diop, but Alain Casanova has this side playing a thoroughly attacking brand of football. Saturday’s victory over Guingamp was marred by a red card for young defender Jean-Clair Todibo, but Casanova’s bold decision to play both of Jimmy Durmaz and Manu García had the visitors looking a fearsome side when on the front foot.
Quick guide
Ligue 1 results
Lyon 0-1 Nice
Nîmes 2-4 PSG
Angers 1-0 Lille
Dijon 0-2 Caen
Guingamp 1-2 Toulouse
Reims 0-1 Montpellier
Strasbourg 2-3 Nantes
St Étienne 0-0 Amiens
Rennes 2-0 Bordeaux
Monaco 2-3 Marseille