Paris Saint-Germain restored their five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 ahead of the World Cup break with a routine 5-0 win over Auxerre at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring early on following some good build-up play from Lionel Messi, who returned from injury to join the France forward and Neymar in attack.
A seventh win in a row for PSG in all competitions never looked in doubt when Carlos Soler added a second goal and then assisted Achraf Hakimi for the home side's third.
Christophe Galtier made full use of his squad depth and substitutes Renato Sanches and Hugo Ekitike added gloss to the scoreline with a couple of late goals.
The serene nature of the contest ensured Galtier could replace a number of PSG's Qatar-bound stars, with no players sustaining an injury problem of any sort.
Messi sent a delightful lofted ball over the Auxerre defence for Nuno Mendes to deliver a first-time pass towards Mbappe, who in turn helped it over the line with 11 minutes gone.
The goal stood following a VAR check for a possible handball against Neymar, but Auxerre nearly levelled as M'Baye Niang forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a fine save.
PSG toiled before Mendes took the ball past a couple of players and picked out Soler to glance a header away from Benoit Costil and in off the far post early in the second half.
Soler turned provider six minutes later when playing in Hakimi to coolly slot past Costil from a one-on-one position.
Messi hit the post but could not get his name on the scoresheet, though Sanches fired in off the post before fellow substitute Ekitike profited from some poor defending to coolly add a fifth.
Mbappe: 'I know what I have to do to win Ballon d'Or'
Kylian Mbappe is confident he "will win" the Ballon d'Or, insisting he knows what he must do to land the prestigious individual accolade.
The Real Madrid forward has scored nine goals in his first 15 LaLiga appearances since joining Los Blancos from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, he has found the net just once in the opening five games of Madrid's Champions League defence.
The Champions League is the title that has eluded Mbappe over the years, with the 2018 World Cup winner coming closest when he helped PSG reach the 2019-20 final, before losing to Bayern Munich.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old believes he is at the "best club" to win Europe's premier club competition, while there are other notable achievements on his wishlist.
"Which top trophy is left for me? The Champions League, that's why I’m at the best club," Mbappe told Canal+.
"And the Euros, and why not make it to the Olympics one day? Individual trophies count, too, like the Ballon d'Or. I know what I have to do to win it, a lot of things on and off the field. When I do everything I need to do to win it, I will win it."
Mbappe also addressed his recent omissions from Didier Deschamps' France squad for their Nations League campaign.
"The French national team has always been the highest level of football," he said. "My love for the French national team hasn't changed.
"Yes, I miss it, because I haven't been there for a long time. In September, I asked the coach not to go. I had just arrived in Madrid. I had a very short vacation. The coach insisted that I go.
"After October, I got injured, I wasn’t on the list. I was talking to them, and the coach told me it was better not to call me up. He's the boss, I'm behind him. I wanted to go, but I can't say why they didn't call me."
Friends For Real triumph in 2024 Pocket Rocket Foundation Six-A-Side Football Competition
Friends For Real emerged as champions of the 2024 Pocket Rocket Foundation Six-A-Side Football Competition, defeating Medley Mixers 1-0 in a thrilling final at the Red Stripe Field on Sunday. The victory was sealed by Emeil Atkinson, whose decisive goal crowned the Olympic Gardens-based team champions in their first appearance at the tournament.
The competition, organized by track and field legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation, saw spirited performances from all participants. Medley Mixers had secured their spot in the final with a commanding 3-0 win over Legacy, while Friends For Real edged out Legend 1-0 in a hard-fought semifinal clash.
In the final, both teams battled intensely, but Atkinson’s clinical strike proved to be the difference, handing Friends For Real the championship trophy and a cash prize of JMD$300,000. Captain Wyan Nelson expressed his team’s joy and gratitude following their triumphant debut.
“Words can’t describe how we feel as a team. It is our first time entering the competition, and to be unbeaten is a great feeling,” Nelson said. “Shelly-Ann is doing a great thing, and we look forward to entering next year again.”
Medley Mixers, who gave a valiant effort in the final, received JMD$200,000 for their second-place finish, while Legend claimed third place with a 2-1 victory over Legacy in the playoff. Pelleco Shaw and Devontay Ricketts scored for Legend, who were awarded JMD$100,000 for their efforts.
The tournament showcased not just the competitive spirit of the participating teams but also the community-building impact of the Pocket Rocket Foundation. The event continues to provide a platform for local talent and an opportunity for camaraderie among communities, all while supporting the charitable mission of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
With this victory, Friends For Real have set a high bar for next year’s competition, promising more excitement in what has become a highly anticipated annual event.
Napoli 0-1 Lazio: Isaksen the hero as Partenopei miss chance to return to Serie A summit
Napoli missed the chance to return to the Serie A summit following a 1-0 defeat by Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The Partenopei were beaten for the second time in the space of four days by the Biancoceleste, who also prevailed 3-1 in their Coppa Italia last-16 clash at Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.
Marco Baroni's side were victorious once again as Gustav Isaksen struck a wonderful winner 11 minutes from time, moving them level on points with third-place Inter.
Scott McTominay and Isaksen went closed during the first half, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot narrowly wide just before the break.
Both sides struck the woodwork after the restart; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru hitting the crossbar from distance, while Frank Anguissa's header was denied by the post.
However, the visitors snatched all three points in the 79th minute. Tijjani Noslin - Thursday's hat-trick hero - found Isaksen, who rounded off a swift counter by curling a wonderful 20-yard effort beyond Alex Meret.
Data Debrief: Three is the magic number for Lazio
For the first time in their history, Lazio have won three consecutive Serie A matches away at Napoli.
Their sixth victory by a single-goal margin this term - more than any other team in the division - they have also scored a league-high 12 goals in the 75th minute or later.
Isaksen was the matchwinner with his third goal of the season, already matching his tally for the entire 2023-24 campaign.
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