FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner Kylian Mbappe became the first Paris Saint-Germain player to score five goals in a match to help his side ease into the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France with a comfortable 7-0 win over sixth-tier Pays de Cassel on Monday, January 23.
Pays de Cassel were the lowest-ranked side left in the competition but did not seem fazed at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. PSG's vastly superior quality unsurprisingly soon shone through though.
An 11-minute spell in the first half saw the Ligue 1 leaders roar into an unassailable 4-0 lead, with Mbappe scoring three and setting up Neymar. The France forward continued his brutal exhibition after half-time with a couple of close-range goals on either side of Carlos Soler's cheeky finish.
Pays de Cassel gave a good account of themselves initially, putting together some intricate passing moves that brought huge cheers around their home away from home.
But PSG's breakthrough eventually arrived in the 29th minute as Mbappe met Nuno Mendes' cut-back and found the net via a significant deflection. He then released Neymar to make it 2-0, the Brazilian dazzling the defence with his quick feet before firing left-footed through goalkeeper Romain Samson's legs.
Samson could only watch as Mbappe brought up his hat-trick before half-time with a pair of sumptuous chips. But the keeper was culpable 10 minutes into the second half, completely missing Neymar's pass and allowing Mbappe a tap-in.
More great work by Neymar just after the hour left Soler to backheel over the line from a couple of yards out. Soler was involved again 11 minutes from time as Mbappe completed the scoring with another poacher's effort from the Spaniard's cross.
(With Opta Inputs)
