Ligue 1 round-up: Monaco ‘pleased to have the best attack in Europe ahead of Barcelona with Messi, Suarez and Neymar’

Monaco's Colombian forward Radamel Falcao celebrates after scoring against Nancy on November 5, 2016. Valery Hache / AFP

PARIS // Radamel Falcao continued his return to prominence on Saturday with two goals as AS Monaco kept up their superb form by thumping Nancy 6-0 at the Stade Louis II.

Falcao’s goals, the second of which came from the penalty spot, were followed by a Kylian Mbappe strike moments after his second-half introduction.

Guido Carrillo added two late goals either side of a Fabinho penalty as the principality club moved clear in second place in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders and local rivals Nice.

The win also underlined Monaco’s status as the most prolific side in Europe’s big five leagues, averaging three goals a game after 12 matches. Also they have scored at least six goals on three separate occasions since the start of October.

“We are doing better this year, providing a spectacle,” said manager Leonardo Jardim. “We are also pleased to have the best attack in Europe ahead of Barcelona with Messi, Suarez and Neymar.”

It was all too much for Nancy, who are on the brink of being bought out by a Chinese consortium but also languish in the relegation zone.

Falcao had scored twice in Monaco's 3-0 Uefa Champions League win at home to CSKA Moscow in midweek and was back among the goals in the 25th minute, nodding in from inside the six-yard box after Michael Chretien had turned the ball against his own bar.

He netted a penalty five minutes later after Fabinho had gone down in the box under a Dialo Guidileye foul, and the Colombian now has eight goals in 10 appearances this season.

He even had the ball in the net again just before half time, but this time his effort was ruled out for an offside against Valere Germain.

Jardim’s side are anything but dependent on Falcao, however, as their second-half display showed.

Teenager Mbappe replaced Germain just after the hour and required only two minutes to add his name to the scoresheet, rolling in the loose ball after goalkeeper Guy Roland Ndy Assembe had turned out a Benjamin Mendy cross.

Falcao then made way for the Argentine forward Carrillo, who got Monaco’s fourth three minutes from time, heading in a cross from the left by the marauding Mendy.

The hosts got a fifth when Brazil international Fabinho tucked away another penalty following a Clement Lenglet foul on Corentin Jean.

But they were not done there, making it 6-0 in stoppage time as the exciting Mbappe, 17, set up Carrillo for his second of the day.

Falcao is one of 13 different players to have scored for Monaco in the league this season but Jardim will be crossing his fingers that the former Atletico Madrid man returns unscathed from international duty next week.

“I hope that everything goes well for him and he returns to Monaco OK,” Jardim said.

Unfortunately for Monaco, their performance was played out in front of a desperately sparse crowd in the principality, but they are a real threat to leaders Nice who put their unbeaten league record on the line when they visit Caen on Sunday.

Champions Paris Saint-Germain, six points adrift of Nice in third, host Rennes on Sunday.

Fourth-placed Guingamp came from behind to draw 3-3 at Dijon with Belgian substitute Nill De Pauw equalising in stoppage time.

Toulouse were held to a 1-1 draw at Nantes while Lyon needed an Alexandre Lacazette penalty — his 10th goal of the season — and a Pierre Bengtsson own goal to beat Bastia, who finished the match with nine men, 2-1.

A superb acrobatic effort by Uruguay striker Diego Rolan gave Bordeaux a 2-1 win at home to managerless bottom club Lorient and Lille continue to loiter just above the relegation zone after losing 1-0 at Angers.

On Friday Marseille were beaten 3-1 at Montpellier, leaving new manager Rudi Garcia still without a win after three league games in charge.

RESULTS:

Friday

• Montpellier 3 Marseille 1

Saturday

• Monaco 6 Nancy 0

• Angers 1 Lille 0

• Bordeaux 2 Lorient 1

• Dijon 3 Guingamp 3

• Lyon 2 Bastia 1

• Nantes 1 Toulouse 1

FIXTURES:

Sunday (all times UAE)

• Caen v Nice, 6pm

• Metz v Saint-Etienne, 8pm

• Paris Saint-Germain v Rennes, 11.45pm

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