PSG 4-0 Reims: Player ratings as hosts extend lead at Ligue 1 summit
Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to 11 points with a 4-0 win over Reims on Sunday night.
As expected, the hosts dominated possession in the opening exchanges but struggled to carve out clear-cut chances.
Reims did threaten on occasion, mainly through Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike, who flashed an effort over the bar on the half-hour mark.
Despite underwhelming for much of the first half, PSG managed to score before the interval with Marco Verratti lashing in off the post with his left foot after the ball broke kindly on the edge of the box.
The second period followed a similar pattern at first. Despite PSG enjoying the lionshare of the ball Reims did fire some warning shots, with Dion Lopy smashing an effort well over when he should have done better.
They were made to rue their wastefulness with PSG scoring three times in quick succession to settle the game.
The 13-minute triple salvo began just after the hour, when Sergio Ramos opened his PSG account in scrappy fashion, scuffing the ball home after Reims failed to clear their lines from a corner.
Soon after it was 3-0 with Verratti netting his second, though he did get a significant helping hand courtesy of a double deflection - with the strike going down as a Wout Faes own goal.
15 minutes from time PSG found a fourth, and they were again aided by a deflection. Kylian Mbappe exploded in behind the Reims defence and showed great composure to pick out Danilo Pereira on the edge of the box, who side-footed into the net off of a Reims defender.
It could have, and should have, been five too with Mauro Icardi nodding a free header into his own arm in the closing stages, leading to the referee rightly ruling out the strike for handball.
Here are your PSG player ratings...
PSG player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Keylor Navas (GK) - 6/10 - Very little to do.
Thilo Kehrer (RB) - 6/10 - Solid and dependable without pulling up too many trees in the opposition half.
Sergio Ramos (CB) - 7/10 - Seriously enjoyed opening his scoring account - even if it was not the most attractive finish.
Marquinhos (CB) - 7/10 - A very comfortable day at the office, particularly in the second half. Rarely misplaced a pass.
Nuno Mendes (LB) - 7/10 - Asked a few questions defensively but he generally had an answer for them. Gave his side width in possession.
2. Midfielders
Marco Verratti (CM) - 8/10 - The best player on the pitch. He carries the ball with such authority and composure. Scored a beautiful goal too - and then a not-so-beautiful one.
Danilo Pereira (CM) - 7/10 - Kept things ticking over. Did not have too much to do off the ball due to PSG's dominance. Scored the fourth.
Leandro Paredes (CM) - 7/10 - Motored around midfield making life difficult for his Reims counterparts. Finished with six tackles.
3. Forwards
Angel Di Maria (RW) - 7/10 - Swung in some excellent deliveries from set plays. Extremely unlucky one did not result in an assist.
Mauro Icardi (ST) - 3/10 - Isolated but did not use the ball well when it broke to him. When he doesn't take his changes he is a futile footballer. Handballing a free header into the net summed up his underwhelming night.
Kylian Mbappe (LW) - 7/10 - Got in behind a few times early on and might have done better. Improved towards the end of the game, carving open the Reims defence on several occasions.
4. Substitutes
Lionel Messi (RW) - 6/10 - Back on the pitch and impressed with a few nice touches.
Julian Draxler (LW) - 6/10
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