Paris Saint-Germain beat FC Metz 3-1 to close out the year at the Parc des Princes on this Wednesday, the 17th match day of the league season.
Missing several key players, including Ousmane Dembele, manager Luis Enrique opted to field an ever-unpredictable starting eleven, with a three-man defence, four midfielders, and an all-French attack led by Bradley Barcola, Randal Kolo Muani, and the ever-present Kylian Mbappé.
An uneventful first half ended goalless and lacked quality chances for either side, although the Parisians avoided conceding an own goal when a header by defender Danilo Pereira bounced off the post. Vitinha put the hosts in front early into the second half, scoring with his first touch, before Mbappe doubled the lead on the hour mark with a stunning shot from the edge of the box as the France forward celebrated his 25th birthday.
Metz captain Matthieu Udol pulled one back with a towering header following a corner, as the ball went in off the inside of the post before Mbappe made it 3-1 profiting on a mistake from the visitors’ defence. PSG next travel to Lens in Ligue 1 on Jan. 14, after facing French Cup winners Toulouse in Trophee des Champions on Jan. 3 and a cup fixture at sixth-tier side Revel four days later.
PSG, who sit top of the standings with 40 points from 17 games, are five points ahead of second-placed Nice and seven points above AS Monaco, in third.