Paris Saint-Germain edged closer to securing the Ligue 1 title after defeating Auxerre 2-1 on Sunday evening.
Ligue 1
Result: Auxerre 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Date: 21 May 2023
Venue: Stade Abbe Deschamps
PSG made only one change from the side that beat Ajaccio 5-0 last weekend, as Warren Zaire-Emery replaced the suspended Achraf Hakimi at right back, with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Hugo Ekitike leading the attack.
The Parisians had a dream start after Mbappe fired them ahead within five minutes from the off with a looping shot from an angle after a through ball by Fabian Ruiz.
A mistake at the back by Auxerre led to a counter-attack by PSG two minutes, as Mbappe doubled their lead with a curling strike from a cross by Messi.
The visitors slowed the tempo of the game, as they preferred to hold possession for long periods but Auxerre nearly got back into the game seven minutes before the interval with a well-hit volley in the box that rattled the woodwork.
However, PSG were still in control and should have been out of sight just before the break after Mbappe charged at goal, played a square pass that needed just a tap-in at the back post but Ekitike stumbled over his own legs and the chance went away.
Auxerre had the best possible start in the second stanza as Lassine Sinayoko pulled a goal six minutes from the restart with a low strike after a headed pass by Nuno Da Costa.
As the game opened up, Mbappe nearly restored a two-goal cushion for PSG shortly before the hour-mark after he beat the offside trap from Messi's through ball but goalkeeper Ionut Radu came off his line to close the angle and made a good save.
The battle got fierce in midfield after that and Ruiz could not continue with ten minutes left due to injury and he was replaced by Renato Sanchez.
With the game on the edge, Mbappe had a goal for PSG in added time disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside, as the Parisians eventually edged the contest.
Christopher Galtier's charges steered six points clear of second-placed Lens at the top of the table, with a far superior goal difference and a virtually wrapped up the title with two games to go
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