Mbappe highlights his worth to PSG as Neymar and Messi sit out

Robin Bairner

• 15 Oct 2021 22:10 BST
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe once again underscored his value to Paris Saint-Germain as Mauricio Pochettino’s side defeated Angers 2-1 at home.

The overall display from the hosts typified their Ligue 1 performances this season. They were uninspiring and largely unimpressive, and for a long period of the game it seemed that an Angelo Fulgini goal would consign them to defeat.

Mbappe, though, came good in the closing stages of the match with an assist and a goal to fire PSG to a narrow success.

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Indeed, Mbappe dragged the victory out of his side in the second half.

First, he set up Danilo Pereira’s equaliser with a deft cross after his corner had been headed clear. Indeed, he was the key figure even in winning the corner, delivering a skidding effort from the corner of the box that needed athletically stopped.

Mbappe’s winner was somewhat more controversial as it arrived following a VAR decision that penalised Angers wing-back Pierrick Capelle for handball after a miscued Mauro Icardi header struck his arm with three minutes left.

The World Cup winner showed for France against Spain that he was over any spot-kick hangover that might have lingered after he decisively missed in Euro 2020 against Switzerland and was again emphatic with his effort, delivering a shot into the side netting that comfortably beat goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni, who had even gone the right way.

It was an impressive display from Mbappe, whose future still looks to be away from PSG, with contract talks showing no signs of progressing. Real Madrid, meanwhile, remain hot favourites to sign him next season.

The performance was all the more timely as PSG were without a host of South American stars following their late return from World Cup qualifying. Among those to miss out were Marquinhos, Neymar and Lionel Messi, yet Mbappe made up for their absence with a match-winning performance.