PSG 5-0 Auxerre: Christophe Galtier's men continued their unbeaten run at the top of Ligue 1 with a dominant win over strugglers Auxerre at the Parc des Princes.
2022/2023 Ligue 1
5-0
Match Report
A goal from Kylian Mbappe put the home side in the lead after 11 minutes, but Auxerre defended resiliently throughout the remainder of the first half.
PSG were in control and dominated possession but failed to score a second before the break while the visitors' best chance fell to Senegalese striker M'Baye Niang, whose shot was blocked well by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The home side's second goal was headed home by Spanish midfielder Carlos Soler in the 56th minute.
Mendes was the architect as he went on a mazy run into the box, dribbling past three players before looping in an inviting cross for Soler.
Auxerre pressed forward to try to reduce the deficit and PSG duly punished their high line when Achraf Hakimi was released on goal by Soler, with the Moroccan outpacing the last defender and slipping the ball past keeper Benoit Costil before the hour.
Renato Sanches scored the fourth in the 81st after Costil kept French forward Hugo Ekitike out with a brilliant save.
But 20-year-old substitute Ekitike made up for his earlier miss by pouncing on a weak back pass before beating the keeper for his first PSG goal to complete the rout.
Galtier's side will now enter the World Cup break five points clear at the top of the French top flight, with only Lens in second place looking capable of giving chase at this point of the season.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
10' GOAL! PSG 1-0 Auxerre (Mbappe)
16' Donnarumma parries Niang's shot
35' Messi's shot wide out
38' Messi's shot wide out again
50' GOAL! PSG 2-0 Auxerre (Soler)
56' GOAL! PSG 3-0 Auxerre (Hakimi)
66' CLOSE! Messi hits the post
80' GOAL! PSG 4-0 Auxerre (Sanches)
83' GOAL! PSG 5-0 Auxerre (Hugo Ekitiké)
Line-ups
PSG XI: Messi, Ramos, Verratti, Neymar, Danilo Pereira, Mukiele, Mbappe, Donnarumma, Soler, Hakimi, Nuno Mendes
Subs: Sarabia, Rico, Bernat, Kimpembe, R.Sanches, Vitinha, Hugo Ekitiké, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Warren Zaïre-Emery
Auxerre XI: Benoît Costil, Autret, Julian Jeanvier, Niang, Jubal, Birama Touré, Hamza Sakhi, Rayan Raveloson, Gideon Mensah, Lassine Sinayoko, Paul Joly
Subs: Charbonnier, Quentin Bernard, Leon, Youssouf M'Changama, Bain, Da Costa, Gaëtan Perrin, Gauthier Hein, Ousoumane Camara