Neymar And Mbappe Compact PSG Hat-trick Beat Clermont 1-6

Paris St Germain's Neymar celebrates his team's sixth goal with team-mate Kylian Mbappe in the Premier League match between Clermont and Paris St Germain at Stade Gabriel Montpied/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Kylian Mbappe and Neymar both scored hat-tricks in Paris Saint-Germain's 6-1 win over Clermont on Sunday morning WIB, which ensured PSG were closer to securing the Ligue 1 title this season. scored two goals and provided three assists in his side's 5-1 win over Lorient last weekend. He added an assist and won a penalty in this match to top the Ligue 1 goalscorers list this season with 20 goals. Mauricio Pochettino's men are now 15 points clear of Rennes who are in second place and look certain to reclaim the league title with seven games remaining. Clermont remain 17th place with just one point clear of Saint-Etienne who occupy the relegation playoff spots. PSG rely solely on Ligue 1 after being knocked out by Real Madrid from the Champions League. But for the second time in a row they were impressive. They took the lead in the sixth minute when Mbappe wreaked havoc in the home defense with a powerful strike from the left flank. The ball finally reached Lionel Messi whose clever pass found Neymar in a good position for the player to direct. Brazil went into the far corner of the Clermont goal. The Clermont players were enraged that PSG continued to attack even though their defender seemed to be groaning from injury.

The future champions doubled their lead in the 20th minute as Messi made his twelfth league assist of the season. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner volleyed home Mbappe which he pushed past goalkeeper Arthur Desmas. Clermont bounced back shortly before going down. Neymar almost restored PSG's two-goal lead just before half-time but Desmas made a brilliant save by parrying the Brazilian's shot. The Ligue 1 giants dominated possession early in the second half but struggled to finish. But with 20 minutes remaining PSG were unstoppable when Mbappe was brought down in the box by Akim Zedadka following a quick counter-attack. Neymar fired home to send Desmas off in the wrong direction. Mbappe scored his second just minutes later by rushing a brilliant pass from Neymar and then rounding Desmas before beating the Clermont keeper. PSG's terrifying trident then scored the fifth when Neymar's shot reached Messi. who then handed it to Mbappe and then curled it into the net in the far corner. The visitors scored four goals in 12 minutes with seven minutes remaining as Neymar completed his first hat-trick since December 2020. He is again indebted to Mbappe who Tired of running to give his team-mate his easy finish in the 83rd minute.