PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappe scored twice to set a league record with 28 goals this season as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-1 relegation victory over Auxerre on Sunday but secured a record eleventh name in the French league.
Defending champions PSG remain six points ahead of second-place Lens with two games to play and have a much bigger goal difference, but mathematically want a point next weekend in Strasbourg to overtake Saint-Etienne with 10 titles.
Mbappe gave PSG the 2-0 lead in 8 minutes with World Cup winner Lionel Messi worried about setting up either goal. .
Despite the advantage, PSG’s defense was vulnerable, as it has been for several seasons.
At the end of the first half, Rayan Raveloson hit the crossbar with a half-volley for Auxerre and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make a blank save.
The cautionary tales went unnoticed when striker Lassine Sinayoko took over the defence and beat Donnarumma in the 51st. Donnarumma held PSG back by repelling Gauthier Hein’s shot in the 75th.
Mbappe had an offside hat-trick goal in added time.
Earlier, Seko Fofana returned the goal as Lens rallied to win 3-1 at Lorient and kept their slim hopes of catching PSG.
The exhibition midfielder cut the ball from close range in the 87th minute.
Lorient midfielder Romain Faivre put his team ahead early on, but Lens scored twice in a row in the middle of the first half thanks to goals from striker Florian Sotoca and midfielder Adrien Thomasson.
Lens is close to securing position at the moment and automatic access to the Champions League. The North team leads third-placed Marseille through problems with two games to play.
Fofana scored the winning goal in the past match as Lens beat Reims 2-1 in the 10th.
Elsewhere, striker Amine Gouiri scored a hat-trick in Rennes’ 5-0 win over relegated Ajaccio to stay one point behind Lille in fifth place and in the Europa Conference League. Ajaccio have conceded 10 goals in two games and then travel to play against Lens.
DOWNHILL SCRAP
Auxerre fights with Strasbourg, 15th, and Nantes, 17th, for being the last team relegated in a season in which 4 groups fall.
Brest made sure they remained in the sensible stretch after beating Clermont 2-1 at home with goals from forwards Franck Honorat and Steve Mounié to move up to 14th.
Strasbourg remained in check 1-1 in Troyes relegated, but it turns out that they are five points ahead of Auxerre and six ahead of Nantes.
OTHER PARTIES
Folarian Balogun, who recently chose to play for the U. S. national team. After the U. S. win over England, he scored his 20th league goal of the season for Reims. But it wasn’t enough as half the table remained 2-2 at home against Angers, the last.
In addition, Nice drew 0-0 at home to Toulouse, champion of the Coupe de France.
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