PARIS — Kylian Mabappe scored five goals including a 12-minute hat-trick in the first period. Paris Saint-Germain beat Pays de Cassel 7-0 in the French Cup to win 7-0. This set up a round-of-16 match against bitter rival Marseille.
This was Mbappe’s first hat trick since the defeat to Argentina in the World Cup finals. Mbappe now has 25 goals in 24 games and has 196 overall for PSG, four less than Edinson Cavani’s club-record.
Mbappe was the first player from PSG to score five goals during a match.
“We came to respect this team and play at our level. Mbappe stated that this is what they did, and that it was a great thing. It was a wonderful opportunity for them, and for us as well. Because it serves as a reminder that we are amateur football players and that it is important to maintain this connection. Even if it is only one game.
Christophe Galtier, PSG coach, kept his word. He picked a strong team with Mbappe and Neymar as the World Cup top scorers, while Lionel Messi, the World Cup winner, was left out for the match at Lens’ home stadium.
Neymar was unidentified until he received a yellow card in the 26th for a late tackle. Galtier became increasingly angry with his team’s underperformance when Mbappe scored a record 14-time cup win for PSG, beating Nuno Mendes’ goal in the 29th.
Neymar was mocked by the crowd after scoring PSG’s second goal in the 33rd. Mbappe scored with a lob and a chipped finish.
After a goalkeeper error in the 56th, Mbappe scored his fourth. Then Neymar set up Carlos Soler midway into the second half. Mbappe then scored from close range in 78th. Mbappe almost scored a double hat-trick, but his late shot was blocked.
Marseille won the 10th French Cup in 1989. Since then, Marseille has lost three times in finals. PSG also lost in 2016.
Lyon hosts Lille in a second all-first-division match. Tie-ups will be held February 7-8.
Bayern Munich hosts PSG on February 14th in the first leg their Champions League last-16 match.
