Mbappe has no problem taking down his former club - PSG ease past Monaco

After tonight, Paris Saint-Germain are 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 - thanks to Kylian Mbappé's brace and a dominant performance against tricky Monaco side.

The league leaders have now won 11 of their past 12 home league games and a miracle must happen for them not to take over the trophy of French champions from Lille.

Battle of French Champions League hopefuls belongs to Nice

It did not start that well for the team from the capital. Niko Kovač’s men got to a glorious early chance to take the lead - twominutes into the game, guests dispossessed Marco Verratti and factored a chance for Sofiane Diop, whose finish came back off the woodwork and into the arms of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

In recent weeks, Monaco had found their scoring touch - seven goals in their previous two Ligue 1 games, but tonight at the Parc des Princes - it just wasn't meant to be.

Soon after Monaco's big opportunity, PSG took the lead - Djibril Sidibé tripped Ángel Di María in the penalty area and Kylian Mbappé was cool, calm and collected to convert the shot from the spot.

Monaco responded with several dangerous attacks towards PSG’s box. But they just couldn't find that final touch in front of goal.

And as it usually happens, teams which do not utilize their chances, especially against big opponents, get punished. A touch of ruthlessness that saw the men from the principality fall 2-0 behind.

It was Youssouf Fofana's sloppy pass that gifted possession to Lionel Messi - the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner found Mbappé and the Frenchman sent a perfectly measured shot behind Alexander Nübel.

It was Mbappe's 100th Ligue 1 goal for PSG - the 22-year-old became just the third player to reach such a milestone.

Monaco once again started brightly after the half-time break - Aleksandr Golovin forced Donnarumma to stoop low to save a shot from the edge of the box. However it turned out to be the last gasp of optimism coming from the visitors

Mauricio Pochettino’s side dominated during the final half-hour and Messi was close to adding a goal to his first-half assist. Mbappé set him up but Messi's chipped finish from an impossible angle fell just wide of Monaco’s goal.

LIGUE 1 - ROUND 18

Friday

Nantes - Lens 3-2 (0-2)

/Kolo Muani 49, 57, Simon 90 - Costa 7, Kalimuendo 14/

Saturday

Brest - Montpellier 0-4 (0-1)

/Wahi 45+1, Mavididi 47, Sambia 60, Germain 85/

Reims - Saint-Etienne 2-0 (1-0)

/Toure 23 pen, Mbuku 89/

Sunday

Lille - Olympique Lyon -0-0

Rennes - Nice 1-2 (0-1)

/Bourigeaud 59 - Dolberg 19 pen, Atal 51/

Troyes - Bordeaux 1-2 (1-1)

/Chavalerin 28 - Salmier 30 og, Hwang Ui-Jo 54/

Metz - Lorient 4-1 (3-0)

/Sarr 5, Jenz 9 og, Boulaya 19, Niane 80 - Jenz 69/

Angers - Clermont 0-1 (0-0)

/Bayo 84 pen/

Strasbourg - Olympique Marseille 0-2 (0-0)

/Dieng 63, Caleta-Car 83/

PSG - Monaco 2-0 (2-0)

/Mbappe 12 pen, 45/