In a 4-0 home victory over Marseille in the French league on Sunday, forwards Randal Kolo Muani and Gonçalo Ramos scored their first goals for Paris Saint-Germain, but the triumph was overshadowed by an injury scare for star striker Kylian Mbappé.
After receiving a blow to the left ankle early in the game and attempting to continue, Mbappé hobbled off the field in the 32nd minute. At Parc des Princes, he was able to leave the pitch on his own, and PSG coach Luis Enrique said Mbappé’s injury was not significant.
He admitted to broadcaster Amazon that it was challenging for him to play because of some soreness. “Taking him off was the better course, but it’s just a blow,”
With seven goals so far, Mbappé leads the league in goals scored.
When Kolo Muani joined Paris Saint-Germain from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in the final hours of the transfer season for 95 million euros ($103 million), he became the third-most expensive acquisition in PSG’s history. Ramos is on a one-season loan from Benfica with the possibility of purchase in June.
With 11 points from six games and a victory, PSG, the defending champion, moved above of Monaco and into third position. After six games, PSG is two points behind surprise leader Brest and one point behind second-place Nice. Marseille suffered its first league loss and plummeted to seventh place.
Marseille has been in turmoil since this week, when the club saw yet another managerial shakeup with the resignation of Spanish coach Marcelino. On Thursday in the Europa League, the club nevertheless managed to hold Ajax to a 3-3 tie.
With a powerful free kick from the right side of the penalty area, right back Achraf Hakimi gave PSG the lead in the eighth minute. Midway through the first half, Marseille forward Vitinha of Portugal headed his team’s goal attempt over the crossbar.
After that opportunity, PSG took control.
In the 37th minute, Kolo Muani scored when Hakimi’s effort rebounded against the post and was unintentionally diverted into his path by Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
Two minutes into the second half, Ramos, who replaced Mbappé, added a 3-0 score by heading in a cross from Ousmane Dembélé. His second goal was assisted by Kolo Muani in the 89th minute.
On Sunday morning, Lens came from behind to defeat Toulouse 2-1 at home for its first victory of the year and climb out of the bottom three.
In a spectacular performance last season, the northern team came in second place, just one point behind Paris Saint-Germain, but it struggled to adjust after selling its two greatest players.
After midfielder César Gelabert gave Toulouse the lead in the 33rd minute, striker Wesley Saad tied the score in the last seconds of the first half with a skillful half-volley. In the 84th minute, striker Morgan Guilavogui scored the game-winning goal to lift Lens up to 16th place after six rounds of play.
Eighth-place Despite being held for the fifth time this year in a 0-0 draw at Montpellier, Rennes is still undefeated.
In other games, midfielder Habib Diarra’s late goal gave Strasbourg a 1-0 victory at Metz, and Le Havre defeated Clermont 2-1 to move up to last place with two goals in the opening seven minutes.
On Saturday, Brest defeated mediocre Lyon 1-0, while on Friday, Nice defeated Monaco 1-0.
