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| Kylian MBAPPE (psg) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint Germain and Rennes at Parc des Princes on February 11, 2022 in Paris, France. |
Runaway league leaders Paris Saint-Germain have again relied on Kylian Mbappe as they rallied from a goal down to beat lowly Saint-Etienne 3-1.
Mbappe has rescued PSG with late goals on numerous occasions this season, on Saturday he scored either side of halftime before providing the assist for midfielder Danilo to net at Parc des Princes.
Record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi set up Mbappe twice as the Frenchman tied Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder on a league-leading 14 goals.
Mbappe joined Zlatan Ibrahimovic on 156 goals for PSG -- equal second behind only the 200 scored by Edinson Cavani.
The victory moved PSG 16 points clear of second-place Nice but it was the 13th time in 26 matches that PSG have fallen behind in a game, raising further questions about their vulnerability against quick passing and transition play.
Both sets of players stood behind a banner reading Peace for all before kick-off amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
After conceding two early goals in last Saturday's 3-1 win defeat at Nantes, PSG trailed in the 16th minute after a bad mistake from Danilo.
He decided not to clear the ball and tried to turn into a better position, only for striker Denis Bouanga to rob the ball from him and drill a low shot under the body of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Messi had a free kick saved by Paul Bernardoni, but the goalkeeper made a handling error on Mbappe's equaliser in the 42nd.
Messi played Mbappe in behind the defence with a typically astute pass, but he was still wide right and Bernardoni got a hand to his angled shot as it squirmed in.
Messi's fine run and pass set Mbappe up two minutes after the break and Mbappe turned provider as Danilo headed home.
Saint-Etienne remained in 16th place ahead of Sunday's games.
Goalkeeper Walter Benitez made several saves to earn 10-man Nice a goalless draw at Strasbourg and second place.
Nice are level on points but with Marseille, but with a superior goal difference, in the battle for the second automatic Champions League entry while Strasbourg are fifth.
Nice's Brazilian central defender Dante sent off in the 48th minute, after receiving a second yellow card for fouling former France striker Kevin Gameiro.
