Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe sparks Monaco as Champions League date with Manchester City looms

Monaco's French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a goal against Bordeaux on March 11, 2017 at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco. Valery Hache / AFP

PARIS // Teen prodigy Kylian Mbappe scored his 10th league goal of the campaign as Monaco beat Bordeaux 2-1 on Saturday to cement their place at the top of Ligue 1.

Mbappe opened the scoring midway through the second half at the Stade Louis II and a beauty from Joao Moutinho doubled the principality side’s lead.

They held on to take all three points after a howler from goalkeeper Danijel Subasic allowed Diego Rolan in to reduce the arrears.

Monaco, who will look to overturn a 5-3 first-leg deficit when they host Manchester City in their Uefa Champions League last-16 return on Wednesday, are five points clear of local rivals Nice at the top with nine games left.

However, Paris Saint-Germain can go back up to second and cut Monaco’s lead back to three points with a win at bottom club Lorient on Sunday in their first outing since their Champions League humiliation in Barcelona.

__________________________________

Read more

■ Around Europe: For PSG, a trip to lowly Lorient is now vital to lift the mood

■ Kevin de Bruyne interview: Man City 'establishing themselves more and more in Europe'

__________________________________

“Now that we are nine matches from the end of the season teams have analysed us and come here with a more defensive strategy,” said Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim, whose side remain the top scorers in Europe’s top five leagues.

“That is not a criticism. Against teams who only come out on the counter-attack, you need to find a way of scoring without giving them the chance to break. In that way it was a great performance.”

On the prospect of trying to turn things around against City, Jardim admitted he has to take recent defensive struggles into consideration.

“We are top of the league, in the League Cup final, in the French Cup quarter-finals, everyone is in good condition mentally,” said the Portuguese.

“It will be a difficult match. One thing is for sure, the way we are playing just now we will have to score three times to qualify. Two won’t be enough.”

Monaco are looking to win the French title for the first time since 2000. They had not beaten Bordeaux at home since 2003 and that run looked set to continue as the usually irresistible Monaco attack struggled to fire.

Moutinho was recalled in place of Tiemoue Bakayoko in midfield while Mbappe again partnered Valere Germain up front with Radamel Falcao on the bench.

That decision was surely made with one eye on the clash with City, but Jardim’s side were still looking for the opening goal when the Colombian striker was introduced in the 64th minute.

Cedric Carrasso boxed away a powerful Thomas Lemar strike in the first half and Mbappe had a header cleared off the line by Milan Gajic as Bordeaux frustrated their hosts.

Bordeaux needed points as they chase European qualification but they fell behind after some questionable defending in the 68th minute.

Falcao got his head to a left-wing corner, neither Gaetan Laborde nor Younousse Sankhare cleared, and Mbappe sidefooted home.

It was a 16th goal in all competitions this season for the 18-year-old striker, one of the hottest prospects in European football.

Portugal playmaker Moutinho made it 2-0 in the 74th minute, running onto a Bernardo Silva pass and floating a stunning shot high into the far corner.

But like in their Champions League thriller with City, Monaco showed signs of defensive weakness as they gave Bordeaux hope late on.

Subasic came out of his area in an attempt to clear a back-pass, but the ball struck off the advancing Rolan, ricocheted back off the Croatian goalkeeper’s face and the Bordeaux player ran in to finish into an empty net.

Nice lost ground on Friday despite coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Caen, Mario Balotelli and Anastasios Donis getting their goals.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Guingamp crushed struggling Bastia 5-0 while Rennes drew 1-1 with Dijon.

Monaco loanee Rony Lopes got the winner as Lille came from behind to win 2-1 at Nancy and Emiliano Sala netted the winner in the 89th minute as Nantes beat Montpellier 3-2.

* Agence France-Presse

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport