• LILLE RATINGS: Ivo Grbic - 3: The Croatian made dreadful error to gift Danilo an early goal then completely missed a corner that allowed Kimpembe to put PSG back in front. Fooled by skill of Messi for the third goal. Also beaten by deflected Danilo strike and Mbappe wonder goal. EPA
    LILLE RATINGS: Ivo Grbic - 3: The Croatian made dreadful error to gift Danilo an early goal then completely missed a corner that allowed Kimpembe to put PSG back in front. Fooled by skill of Messi for the third goal. Also beaten by deflected Danilo strike and Mbappe wonder goal. EPA
  • Zeki Celik - 4: Turkish defender gave away a penalty last time out against Brest and was skinned by Mendes ahead of PSG’s opener. Gave Mbappe time and space to curl home stunning fifth goal. AFP
    Zeki Celik - 4: Turkish defender gave away a penalty last time out against Brest and was skinned by Mendes ahead of PSG’s opener. Gave Mbappe time and space to curl home stunning fifth goal. AFP
  • Sven Botman - 5: Headed a corner just over bar but did score in the 28th minute with he hooked a volley from Ben Arfa's cross. Great tackle to stop marauding Mbappe only to see ball end up with Messi who finished in style. A struggle for the Dutch defender. AFP
    Sven Botman - 5: Headed a corner just over bar but did score in the 28th minute with he hooked a volley from Ben Arfa's cross. Great tackle to stop marauding Mbappe only to see ball end up with Messi who finished in style. A struggle for the Dutch defender. AFP
  • Jose Fonte - 5: Usually reliable partnership with Botman was shaky and they both found going tough against PSG’s all-star attack. AFP
    Jose Fonte - 5: Usually reliable partnership with Botman was shaky and they both found going tough against PSG’s all-star attack. AFP
  • Gabriel Gudmundsson - 5: Did OK in first half against Di Maria and one of the Swede’s kicks resulted in the Argentine going off injured. Given a harder time by Draxler and Hakimi in second half. Reuters
    Gabriel Gudmundsson - 5: Did OK in first half against Di Maria and one of the Swede’s kicks resulted in the Argentine going off injured. Given a harder time by Draxler and Hakimi in second half. Reuters
  • Jonathan Bamba - 4: Made no impact on the game until he had weak shot easily saved by Donnarumma just before the hour mark. Getty
    Jonathan Bamba - 4: Made no impact on the game until he had weak shot easily saved by Donnarumma just before the hour mark. Getty
  • Benjamin Andre - 5: Midfielder, who was sent off in brain-dead fashion against Marseille last month, couldn’t get a grip in centre of park as likes of Paredes and Verratti dominated proceedings. EPA
    Benjamin Andre - 5: Midfielder, who was sent off in brain-dead fashion against Marseille last month, couldn’t get a grip in centre of park as likes of Paredes and Verratti dominated proceedings. EPA
  • Amadou Onana - 6: Rose above PSG defence to head over corner after eight minutes then had side-foot volley saved by Donnarumma soon after. Unlucky deflection on Danilo shot for PSG’s fourth. AP
    Amadou Onana - 6: Rose above PSG defence to head over corner after eight minutes then had side-foot volley saved by Donnarumma soon after. Unlucky deflection on Danilo shot for PSG’s fourth. AP
  • Jonathan David - 4: Lille’s top scorer this season got little or no change out of Kimpembe or Marquinhos. Reuters
    Jonathan David - 4: Lille’s top scorer this season got little or no change out of Kimpembe or Marquinhos. Reuters
  • Hatem Ben Arfa - 7: First start for the 34-year-old former PSG player who was denied early goal by Kimpembe block. Sensational change of pace to beat Di Maria and supply pass for Botman goal. Guilty of losing possession too easily on occasions but was Lille’s best attacking spark – the story of his career. AFP
    Hatem Ben Arfa - 7: First start for the 34-year-old former PSG player who was denied early goal by Kimpembe block. Sensational change of pace to beat Di Maria and supply pass for Botman goal. Guilty of losing possession too easily on occasions but was Lille’s best attacking spark – the story of his career. AFP
  • Timothy Weah - 4: US international rounded Donnarumma in first half but then kicked the ball against his own leg that allowed PSG to block shot at near post - but offside flag would have ruled out goal anyway. Offered little threat. AP
    Timothy Weah - 4: US international rounded Donnarumma in first half but then kicked the ball against his own leg that allowed PSG to block shot at near post - but offside flag would have ruled out goal anyway. Offered little threat. AP
  • SUBS: Domagoj Bradaric – (On for on for Weah 69’) 5: Booked for clumsy foul on Mbappe. AP Angel Gomes – (On for Ben Arfa 69’) 5: Thankless task coming on right after fifth PSG goal and shot wide when unmarked in front of goal in 88th minute. Edon Zhegrova – (On for Bamba 86’) N/A.
    SUBS: Domagoj Bradaric – (On for on for Weah 69’) 5: Booked for clumsy foul on Mbappe. AP Angel Gomes – (On for Ben Arfa 69’) 5: Thankless task coming on right after fifth PSG goal and shot wide when unmarked in front of goal in 88th minute. Edon Zhegrova – (On for Bamba 86’) N/A.
  • PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6: Produced fine stop from Onana volley minutes after PSG had taken the lead but Italy keeper should have done better with Botman’s leveller. AP
    PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6: Produced fine stop from Onana volley minutes after PSG had taken the lead but Italy keeper should have done better with Botman’s leveller. AP
  • Achraf Hakimi - 7: Full-back returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Morocco could have put PSG 2-1 up but dragged shot wide after being teed-up by Messi. Still searching for form that helped Inter Milan win Serie A last season but a better showing here. AP
    Achraf Hakimi - 7: Full-back returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Morocco could have put PSG 2-1 up but dragged shot wide after being teed-up by Messi. Still searching for form that helped Inter Milan win Serie A last season but a better showing here. AP
  • Presnel Kimpembe - 8: Important challenge to deflect Ben Arfa shot over bar early on. Capitalised on second Grbic howler to put PSG back in front. Class performance from France defender. Reuters
    Presnel Kimpembe - 8: Important challenge to deflect Ben Arfa shot over bar early on. Capitalised on second Grbic howler to put PSG back in front. Class performance from France defender. Reuters
  • Marquinhos - 8: Defender, who scored in the corresponding fixture in Paris in October, was composed figure at back and strolled through game. Should have made it 6-1 but volleyed over. Reuters
    Marquinhos - 8: Defender, who scored in the corresponding fixture in Paris in October, was composed figure at back and strolled through game. Should have made it 6-1 but volleyed over. Reuters
  • Nuno Mendes - 7: Wasted great chance for early goal when he dragged a shot well wide after another tee-up by Messi. Skipped past Celic and the cross that followed resulted in first Grbic blunder. Reuters
    Nuno Mendes - 7: Wasted great chance for early goal when he dragged a shot well wide after another tee-up by Messi. Skipped past Celic and the cross that followed resulted in first Grbic blunder. Reuters
  • Marco Verratti - 8: Italian bagged a double in rout of Reims in PSG’s last Ligue 1 game and is crucial player for them. So good at retaining possession under pressure, linked up well with Messi and Mbappe – supplied pass for French attacker’s wonderful fifth goal for PSG. AFP
    Marco Verratti - 8: Italian bagged a double in rout of Reims in PSG’s last Ligue 1 game and is crucial player for them. So good at retaining possession under pressure, linked up well with Messi and Mbappe – supplied pass for French attacker’s wonderful fifth goal for PSG. AFP
  • Leandro Paredes - 7: Argentine, who missed from spot in French Cup shootout defeat to Nice last week, dispossessed Ben Arfa and continued run to supply final ball for Danilo to score fourth goal. Getty
    Leandro Paredes - 7: Argentine, who missed from spot in French Cup shootout defeat to Nice last week, dispossessed Ben Arfa and continued run to supply final ball for Danilo to score fourth goal. Getty
  • Danilo Pereira - 8: Close-range finish after disastrous spill from Lille goalkeeper Grbic to put PSG in front and his deflected shot made it 4-1. All-action display from Portuguese midfielder. EPA
    Danilo Pereira - 8: Close-range finish after disastrous spill from Lille goalkeeper Grbic to put PSG in front and his deflected shot made it 4-1. All-action display from Portuguese midfielder. EPA
  • Angel Di Maria - 6: Curled shot over bar after 20 minutes. Skinned by Ben Arfa before Botman’s goal and goes down far too easily aat times. Was on receiving end of a couple of actual kicks from Lille defenders, though, and limped off before break. AFP
    Angel Di Maria - 6: Curled shot over bar after 20 minutes. Skinned by Ben Arfa before Botman’s goal and goes down far too easily aat times. Was on receiving end of a couple of actual kicks from Lille defenders, though, and limped off before break. AFP
  • Lionel Messi - 9: First league start since before Christmas and ran the show. Curled left-foot strike from edge of area just wide of target after 18 minutes. His inswinging corner set-up Kimpembe goal then produced sublime delicate finish to put PSG 3-1 up. Hit woodwork with wonderful free-kick at end of first half. Reuters
    Lionel Messi - 9: First league start since before Christmas and ran the show. Curled left-foot strike from edge of area just wide of target after 18 minutes. His inswinging corner set-up Kimpembe goal then produced sublime delicate finish to put PSG 3-1 up. Hit woodwork with wonderful free-kick at end of first half. Reuters
  • Kylian Mbappe - 8: Not much of a sniff until late in first half when he sent shot way over bar and then his surging run led to Messi making it 3-1. Lashed volley over the top just after break and shot into side netting minutes after that. Sensational right-foot finish into top corner to make it 5-1. EPA
    Kylian Mbappe - 8: Not much of a sniff until late in first half when he sent shot way over bar and then his surging run led to Messi making it 3-1. Lashed volley over the top just after break and shot into side netting minutes after that. Sensational right-foot finish into top corner to make it 5-1. EPA
  • SUBS: Julian Draxler – (On for Di Maria 45’) 7: Made a good impression after coming on. Lovely bit of skill down right wing in run-up to PSG’s fourth goal. EPA
    SUBS: Julian Draxler – (On for Di Maria 45’) 7: Made a good impression after coming on. Lovely bit of skill down right wing in run-up to PSG’s fourth goal. EPA
  • Thilo Kehrer – (On for Kimpembe 79’) N/A. Xavi Simons – (On for Paredes 85’) N/A. AP
    Thilo Kehrer – (On for Kimpembe 79’) N/A. Xavi Simons – (On for Paredes 85’) N/A. AP

Lille v Paris Saint-Germain ratings: Grbic 3, Ben Arfa 7; Messi 9, Mbappe 8


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Paris Saint-Germain produced a superb attacking performance to thrash champions Lille 5-1 in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe were among the goals while Lille goalkeeper Ivo Grbic had nightmare game at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

PSG, who were knocked out of the French Cup on penalties by Nice in midweek, were far too strong for a Lille side languishing in 11th place after a seventh defeat of their title defence.

Mauricio Pochettino's side are 13 points clear of second-place Marseille at the top of Ligue 1.

In a disastrous start for Lille, Grbic somehow dropped Nuno Mendes' low cross despite being under no pressure, and Danilo duly stabbed into an empty net after 10 minutes.

Former PSG player Hatem Ben Arfa, making his first start following his surprise January move to Lille, set up Sven Botman with a fine run and pass for the defender to equalise before the half-hour mark.

But PSG were back in front in the 32nd minute as Grbic totally missed Messi's fine corner and Presnel Kimpembe bundled home from close range.

Messi grabbed his first goal of 2022 in slightly fortuitous fashion when Botman's attempted clearance richoched of the Argentine's shin, but there was nothing lucky about the lovely dinked finish over Grbic.

PSG quickly put paid to any thoughts of a second-half Lille comeback when Danilo scored his second goal after being teed-up by Leandro Paredes — the Portuguese midfielder's shot took a wicked deflection to send the ball spinning into the bottom corner.

There was nothing the goalkeeper could do to keep about PSG's fifth midway through the second half as Mbappe unleashed a magnificent, curling strike from outside the area into the top corner.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: February 07, 2022, 4:40 AM