Paris Saint-Germain took another giant step towards the title, Marseille and Rennes cemented their positions on the podium and Bordeaux gave themselves a fighting chance of survival. With a season-high 38 goals scored across the weekend, check out the action from a prolific Round 31 of Ligue 1 Uber Eats here!
Big guns deliver for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Clermont 6-1 at the Stade Gabriel Montpied thanks to hat-tricks from both Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
Neymar opened the scoring (6') before adding two second half goals (71' & 83'), whilst Mbappé moved up to 20 league goals for the season with his triple (19, 74' & 80'). Lionel Messi also got in on the act, providing three assists in the rout. Jodel Dossou replied for the hosts (42').
"I am very pleased to have scored my first hat-trick of the season and even happier with the win," said Neymar who is in the midst of his best form of the season. "It's important that the chemistry between us gets stronger in every match. Unfortunately, everyone is pretty much at 100% at the wrong time of the season and it's a shame but I am very happy with everything that we are showing on the pitch. It's a lot easier to play with players who are very intelligent. Leo and Kylian are extraordinary, they are two geniuses."
Comfortable win for Marseille
Marseille swept aside Montpellier 2-0 at the Orange Velodrome to move a step closer to qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Bamba Dieng opened the scoring from close range for OM (9') before Cengiz Under converted a penalty ten-minutes later.
"It was an important win for us at the start of an important part of the season," explained Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli. "These victories give impetus to our project. We must now recover and get the players ready for Thursday (against PAOK). Then there will be Sunday's game (vs PSG), with very little preparation time, but we will try to keep hold of second place."
Rennes hold off Reims
A Benjamin Bourigeaud double helped Rennes to a 3-2 win at Reims.
Rennes raced into a three-goal lead thanks to goals from Bourigeaud (39' & 43') and Martin Terrier (58'). Reims staged a late rally through Maxime Busi (60') and Jens-Lys Cajuste (81') but Rennes held on to boost their Champions League hopes.
"I'm pleased with this victory because it was an important match that enabled us to build on last week's point at Nice," Rennes Coach Bruno Génésio explained. "I liked how we got ourselves back into the game after a tricky start. After that, our strength, movement and technical ability was what earned us the three points."
Lyon leave it late
Karl Toko Ekambi's late equaliser earned Lyon a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg.
Julien Stéphan's side had opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Ibrahima Sissoko but a weary-looking Lyon levelled in added time through Toko Ekambi, ahead of their Europa League quarter final second leg at home to West Ham United on Thursday.
Lens sweep aside Nice
Lens overcame an early dismissal to see off Nice 3-0 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Massadio Haidara was sent off for Lens for a robust challenge (17') but Franck Haise's men showed fight and raced into a three-goal lead thanks to Arnaud Kalimuendo (51' & 67') and Cheick Doucouré (55').
Nice ended the game with nine players after Mario Lemina (58') and Dante (90') were given their marching orders as Les Aiglons' Champions League hopes suffered a huge blow.
Three on the spin for Clément
Monaco secured a third-consecutive win after a 2-1 victory at home to Troyes.
Full-back Caio Henrique opened the scoring for Monaco with a fantastic free-kick (19') but the hosts were pegged back when Ike Ugbo superbly equalised for Troyes six minutes before the interval. Substitute Kevin Volland grabbed the winner (57') to keep the principality side in sixth position and still in with a shout of Champions League qualification.
Spoils shared at Angers and Brest
Edon Zhegrova's stunning 20-yard strike rescued a point for LOSC in a 1-1 draw at Angers.
Tiago Djalo's own-goal gifted Angers the lead (64') but his blushes were spared when Kosovan international Zhegrova brilliantly levelled for Jocelyn Gourvennec's side ten minutes later.
Meanwhile, Brendan Chardonnet was the hero for Brest as they salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw with Nantes at the Stade Francis le Blé.
Randal Kolo Muani put Nantes in front before Chardonnet equalised midway through the second half.
Lorient fight back in style
Lorient came back from two-goals down to beat Saint-Étienne 6-2 at the Stade du Moustoir.
Sainté took a two-goal lead through Denis Bouanga (4') and Arnaud Nordin (22') before Les Merlus began their stunning comeback.
A brace each from Terem Moffi (42' & 87') and Ibrahima Koné (45' & 65') and goals from both Enzo Le Fée (61') and Quentin Boisgard (90') completed a stunning turnaround for Christophe Pélissier's men in their bid to avoid relegation.
Bordeaux revival continues
Bordeaux overcame fellow relegation rivals Metz 3-1 at the Matmut Atlantique to boost their chances of top-flight survival.
Metz opened the scoring through Didier Lamkel Ze (21') before Bordeaux hit back through Ricardo Mangas (52'), M'Baye Niang (68') and Ui-Jo Hwang two minutes from time as David Guion's side leapfrogged their opponents into 19th place on the table.
