Kylian Mbappé scored his second hat-trick in Ligue 1 this season as leaders Paris Saint-Germain won 6-2 in Montpellier on Sunday, securing their first league victory in four games.
PSG, with 59 points in 26 games, extended its lead over Brest to 12 points, while Montpellier, with 26 points, remains one point above the relegation playoff spot. Previously, Brest drew 1-1 at home against Lille.
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The visitors took the lead in the 14th minute when Mbappé found Vitinha with a cross from the left following a short corner kick. The Portugal international evaded two defenders before firing the ball right-footed from the edge of the area.
Mbappé, in his 200th league game for PSG, scored eight minutes later, playing one-two with Randal Kolo Muani and finishing with his left foot from a difficult angle.
But Montpellier counterattacked on the half hour mark with Jordan Ferri's cross from the left eventually reaching Arnaud Nordin inside the area, who headed in from close range.
The hosts equalized just before half-time when PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma awarded a penalty after colliding with Tanguy Coulibaly inside the area. Montpellier captain Téji Savanier converted the penalty, sending Donnarumma the wrong way.
But the parity did not last long, as Mbappé scored again five minutes into the second half, with his right foot from outside the area that hit the post before finding the net.
PSG extended their lead in the 53rd minute when Lee Kang-in, who scored in the first leg in November, scored his second league goal for the club with a left-footed shot from outside the box, while Muani got his second match assist.
Mbappe completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later with a lofted pass from Vitinha, taking his goal tally for the campaign to 24 in 24 appearances.
The French international, who will leave PSG at the end of the season, has scored 38 goals in all competitions this campaign in 37 appearances.
Nuno Mendes closed the scoring for PSG when his left-footed shot from outside the box found the net in the 89th minute.
