PSG ratings v Montpellier: Neymar 8, Messi 8, Mbappe 7

Paris club ease to 5-2 win at Parc des Princes on Saturday

PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 5. The Italy international spent most of the game as a spectator amid PSG’s dominance, but he shouldn’t have been beaten at his near post by 19-year-old Enzo Tchato. Reuters

Sergio Ramos - 6. Provided a threat from set pieces in both attacking and defensive phases. Untroubled by Montpellier’s attack who only began to attack after being 3-0 down. EPA

Marquinhos - 6. Progressed the ball quickly out to PSG’s wing-backs and kept shape in a match where the Ligue 1 champions administered full control for most of the game. EPA

Presnel Kimpembe - 6. Brought the ball out from the back to speed up transitions, but was never threatened with the game looking like a training exercise for PSG. AP

Nuno Mendes - 7. Mendes looked threatening every time he got forward, and he was prepared to jolt inside defenders closing him down. A strong performance from the Portugal international who proved to be a creative spark for PSG. AFP

Achraf Hakimi - 7. Stretched the play down the right flank and beat his marker on a number of occasions, though should have done better with a shot that was driven past the post in the first half. AFP

Marco Verratti - 8. Put plenty of pressure on the ball in transitions when PSG lost possession, and that often helped PSG recover it quickly to then build another attack. The Italian international also passed with precision, but he wasn’t troubled much on the defensive end of his game. AP

Vitinha - 6. The 22-year-old was keen to get involved but his effort from outside of the box that was hit high and wide should have been much better. Looked impressive when transitioning the play into PSG’s dangerous forward line. AFP

Neymar - 8. Bright on the ball and won plenty of fouls through his marauding runs in between defenders. Made no mistake from the penalty spot before going on to score a second. Marginally adjudged to be offside after some delay where he was thought to have completed his hat-trick. Reuters

Lionel Messi - 8. Paris Saint-Germain’s brightest player on the forward line as he made things look easy. Messi should have assisted the opening goal after picking out Neymar, while he also looked to test the keeper with some well-hit shots from outside the box. AFP

Kylian Mbappe - 7. Wasteful at times on the night with a tame penalty effort that was saved by the goalkeeper. When through on goal, it looked as though the France international was hesitant to unleash a shot at goal, and that saw a handful of chances wasted. Got on the scoresheet eventually with a quick-reaction finish from a corner. AFP

SUBS: Leandro Paredes (Vitinha, 71') - N/A. On to provide solidity in the midfield while 3-1, and that helped Paris Saint-Germain pick Montpellier off with attacks. Reuters

Pablo Sarabia (Mbappe, 86') N/A. Reuters

Renato Sanches (Verratti, 86') - N/A. An instant impact with his first touch to score his first goal for PSG. AFP

Nordi Mukiele (Hakimi, 86') - N/A. AFP

Hugo Ekitike (Neymar, 90') - N/A. A debut for striker Hugo Ekitike saw him receive a warm reception from the Parc des Princes crowd. Reuters

Adam Brown

Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain’s high-powered attack put on another impressive display in a 5-2 win over Montpellier on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe opened his account but missed a penalty in his return from a groin injury.

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Neymar scored twice to take his tally to three goals in two league games for the defending champions.

Neymar rolled in a spot-kick to put PSG 2-0 up at the break at the Parc des Princes after Falaye Sacko's own goal had put them ahead.

The Brazilian then headed in his second and PSG's third shortly after the interval. Wahbi Khazri pulled one back for Montpellier before Mbappe made it 4-1 and new signing Renato Sanches came off the bench to get the fifth.

Mbappe, whose last match was against Gamba Osaka in Japan almost three weeks ago, had a penalty saved midway through the first half by Montpellier goalkeeper Jonas Omlin after the VAR spotted a handball in the area.

However, it was his shot that was diverted in by Sacko for an own goal to break the deadlock, and Mbappe later got his goal following a Neymar corner in the second half, but coach Christophe Galtier admitted the striker was not yet on peak form.

"A top-level footballer can't just switch himself on or off. He needs time to be back to 100 percent of his athletic ability and when he gets there he will make even more of a difference," Galtier said.

"He likes to get forward and score goals and it is really quite normal that he should be, not disappointed, but a bit short of full fitness compared to his teammates."

Player ratings for PSG 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: August 14, 2022, 9:07 AM