Neymar Returns As Three-Star Mbappe Commits Future To Champions PSG
22nd April 2019
The World Cup winner then put the three points beyond doubt when he tapped in Alves' low cross nine minutes after the break
- Neymar joined the Paris Saint-Germain title party on Sunday when he made his first appearance since January as Kylian Mbappe swept aside Monaco with a hat-trick in a 3-1 win for the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions
- Mbappe took his league tally for the season to 30 following his treble, which came just hours after PSG were crowned champions for the sixth time in seven years when closest challengers Lille dropped points
- Neymar's return at the start of the second half replacing Layvin Kurzawa is the cherry on the cake for Thomas Tuchel's side, who had been without the Brazilian superstar since January 23 with a right foot injury
PARIS, France-
Neymar joined the Paris Saint-Germain title party on Sunday when he made his
first appearance since January as Kylian Mbappe swept aside Monaco with a
hat-trick in a 3-1 win for the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions.
Mbappe took his
league tally for the season to 30 following his treble, which came just hours
after PSG were crowned champions for the sixth time in seven years when closest
challengers Lille dropped points.
Neymar's return at
the start of the second half replacing Layvin Kurzawa is the cherry on the cake
for Thomas Tuchel's side, who had been without the Brazilian superstar since
January 23 with a right foot injury.
Edinson Cavani also
returned to action as a second half substitute, having a late strike correctly
ruled out for offside, meaning that PSG's famed front three are back together
following months apart.
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Mbappe has thrived
in the absence of his strike partners, and gave his side a 2-0 first-half lead
with two neat finishes, the first coming in the 15th minute and the second
seven minutes before the break after a beautiful pass from Dani Alves.
The World Cup winner
then put the three points beyond doubt when he tapped in Alves' low cross nine
minutes after the break.
Aleksandr Golovin
rolled home a consolation for the away side, who remain in trouble in 16th
place and are only four points away from the relegation play-off spot.
On Sunday afternoon
Lille ended their challenge with a goalless draw at Toulouse that left them 16 points
behind PSG with only five games to play and allowed capital club to celebrate
the title after missing chances to seal it in their previous matches.
The Parisians have
struggled with key injuries in recent weeks and they lost Italian international
midfielder Marco Verratti with what looks like a knock to his left ankle.
PSG took the field
wearing a shirt with a large image of Notre Dame replacing the usual sponsor's
logo. "Notre-Dame" replaced the player names on the back of the
shirts.
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The iconic Paris
cathedral was damaged in a spectacular blaze last Monday.
The club said that
they would put a limited edition of the shirts on sale on line during the match
for 100 euros each. The club said the money "will be donated to
associations related to firefighters".
The club also posted
a "Hommage to Notre Dame" video on their web site in which players
praised the team-work of the Paris fire brigade and made a gesture that
imitates the two famous towers that form part of the cathedral's facade.
The club said it was
also using Sunday's game to thank the firefighters.