Paris Saint-Germain's star forwards were in full swing, each bagging a brace, as the capital club rounded out the UEFA Champions League group phase with a resounding 4-1 win over Club Brugge at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night.
Although Paris were already assured of a place in the round of 16 and top spot in the group was out of reach, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi made sure that their side ended the group stage on a high with a dazzling display against Brugge at the Parc.
'We were good'
Mbappé hit his first after just a minute of play, working a fine move down the left with Nuno Mendes before cutting inside and lashing home. Five minutes later, he was at it again, scoring with an audacious volley from close range after Angel Di Maria's superb chip dropped over his shoulder.
"We wanted to win this game at home with all of the fans here," Mbappé told UEFA.com after the match that gave a real glimpse of how dangerous a prospect Paris will be in the round of 16 in March, after the club's star forwards have even more time to develop their interplay. "It was important to score fast in the game, and that's what we did. Then we scored a second time and we were good. We were good all the game. We had a few minutes in the second half where were out of the game but we have to improve again."
After bagging his second goal, Mbappé turned provider as he fed Lionel Messi after a trademark break down the left. The Argentine in turn unleashed a trademark shot from the edge of the area that curled and dipped past the increasingly hapless visiting 'keeper.
'It's easy to play with Lionel Messi'
Although Brugge pulled one back on 68 minutes, Messi reasserted PSG's dominance and completed his double with a powerfully taken spot-kick that left the Brugge 'keeper rooted to the spot. A dazzling display from the two star forwards, an one that Mbappé felt came easily.
"It's easy to play with Lionel Messi, he's the best player in the world," said the French prodigy, who turns 23 later this month. "He won the Ballon d'Or a few days ago! He scored two goals today, he is happy and I hope he will help us in the future."
And doubtless he will, with the first opportunity coming in a new competition - the Coupe de France - in which PSG face off against fifth-division amateurs Entente Feignies-Aulnoye FC at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes.
