Ligue 1 2021-22: Kylian Mbappe’s 10th League Goal Helps Paris Saint-Germain Beat Brest ? ?

Paris Saint-Germain missed the services of Lionel Messi against Brest in Ligue 1 2021-22 on Saturday as the Argentine is yet to recover fully after testing positive for COVID-19.

Updated on: 16 January 2022 6:42 am

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opener against Brest in Ligue 1 2021-22.

Kylian Mbappe’s 10th goal in the Ligue 1 helped leaders Paris Saint-Germain overcome a sloppy start to beat Brest 2-0 and stay 11 points ahead of second-placed Nice. PSG were missing Lionel Messi as he continues to recover from the coronavirus and struggled early. (More Football News) ?

Brest forward Irvin Cardona was lively and forced goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into two smart saves. Mbappe’s excellent form has glossed over PSG’s shortcomings this season, and he curled a shot into the bottom corner from the left of the penalty area in the 32nd minute.

PSG midfielder Marco Verratti hit the post just after the break, and left-back Nuno Mendes set up fellow defender Thilo Kehrer for a close-range volley in the 53rd. Brest was in 13th place but finished as the stronger side.?

Earlier, Saint-Etienne's campaign took a turn for the worse when it conceded deep in injury time and lost at home to Lens 2-1. Rock-bottom Saint-Etienne has won only two games and lost 12, leaving it four points behind 19th-placed Metz.

Captain Seko Fofana curled the ball in brilliantly five minutes into stoppage time to give fourth-placed Lens another late win after an 88th-minute strike against Rennes last weekend. Firing coach Claude Puel has made little difference for Saint-Etienne, once one of Europe's most entertaining sides during the Michel Platini era.

Puel’s replacement, Pascal Dupraz, saved Toulouse from relegation against the odds in 2017, and Saint-Etienne is looking just as bad this time. The pick of Sunday’s games sees third-placed Marseille hosting defending champion Lille.