Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar scores as PSG extends unbeaten streak to 12 matches

Paris Saint-Germain on Friday became the first team to start a league season with 12 consecutive victories in as many matches following the 2-1 defeat of Lille in Ligue 1.

Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were on target as PSG surpassed Tottenham Hotspur’s 11 victories in the 1960-61 season in the English top flight.

Following the victory, PSG are top of the table with 36 points from 12 matches, 11 away from second-placed Montpellier and Lille, who have played the same number of matches.

After a torrid first half, where the home wasted multiple opportunities to score, 19-year-old Mbappe put PSG ahead in the 70^th minute after getting to the end of a brilliant threaded ball from Neymar before curling it past Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Also Read: Premier League: Arsenal play out exciting 1-1 draw against Liverpool

14 minutes later, Neymar doubled the lead with a clinical finish after playing a quick one-two with Mbappe to get inside the Lille box. Nicolas Pepe scored the lone goal for the visitors with a stoppage-time penalty that was merely a consolation.

PSG were on top right from the start and should have gone ahead in the 10^th minute but Mbappe’s shot missed the target by a whisker. Maignan then denied Angel Di Maria from a corner rebound, while defender Marquinhos headed over the bar from a similar corner.

Thomas Meunier then broke his way into the box but fired over despite being in a one-on-one situation.

Lille though had to thank their goalkeeper Maignan for keeping the limited to goalless at halftime with numerous saves, the highlight of which was the darting dive to parry away an Angel Di Maria shot.

Back from the break, PSG continued their attacks but were kept at bay by Lille goalkeeper before Mbappe broke the deadlock with a curled effort into the corner from outside the box.

Marco Verratti then missed from close range before Neymar put the final nail with a well-timed shot. With seconds remaining, PSG defender Thilo Kehrer was adjudged to have handled to have handled the ball inside the D box, from which Pepe found the top corner of the net.