World Cup foes Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé inspired Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-0 win at bitter rivals Marseille to extend their Ligue 1 lead to eight points on Sunday.
Mbappé, who scored twice, was set up by Messi for both his goals, and repaid the favour by laying on another for the Argentina forward as PSG, who were without the injured Neymar, moved to 60 points from 25 games with second-placed Marseille on 52.
France forward Mbappé, who was on the losing side against Messi’s Argentina in the World Cup final, became PSG’s joint record scorer with 200 goals – level with Edinson Cavani.
The three points came at some cost, however, with the PSG head coach Christophe Galtier confirming that Presnel Kimpembe had ruptured his achilles tendon and the France international will now miss the rest of this season.
Kimpembe, who missed the World Cup with an achilles issue, left the pitch on a stretcher, two weeks after making his comeback from a three-month layoff.
Mbappé wrote on Instagram: “Stay strong, my brother,” while PSG said on Twitter: “All our support and strength. We are with you!”
PSG next face Nantes at home before travelling to Bayern Munich for their Champions League last 16 return leg after losing the first encounter 1-0 at Parc des Princes.
Third-placed Monaco slumped to a 3-0 home defeat against Nice, who prevailed thanks to a Terem Moffi double and a superb half-volley by Khéphren Thuram.
The result left Monaco on 50 points, ahead of fourth-placed RC Lens on goals scored after the team from north France drew 1-1 at Montpellier on Saturday.
Rennes won 1-0 at Nantes with an early strike from Jeremy Doku to keep themselves in the hunt for European qualification. Auxerre boosted their own survival hopes with a 1-0 win at Lorient courtesy of Rayan Raveloson’s free-kick.