Club Brugge 0-5 PSG: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Champions League 2019-20

#1 Welcome back, Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe celebrates with his teammates during a second-half blitz against Brugge

PSG boast a star-studded squad with talent and depth in abundance, especially in attack. But the team is completely different in Kylian Mbappe's absence, so much so that you could be excused for forgetting an injured Neymar (hamstring) as watched this fixture from home comforts in Paris. It’s why many feel PSG has become Mbappe’s team, not Neymar. When you compare the two halves, you can instantly see why.

Mbappe provides electrifying speed, excellent attacking movement and the same fear factor that Neymar commands - with more efficiency, selflessness and less mistakes in possession too. His finishing also continues to improve and that's why after 27 Champions League games (22 starts), he now has 17 goals and nine assists to his name.

Having teed up Icardi for his brace, he then scuffed an effort under pressure at the end of a breathless counter-attack, where he and di Maria combined in transition. That was merely a sign of things to come. Exchanging passes with di Maria and Juan Bernat proved pivotal in the build-up to his brace, unleashing a composed finish having left Mignolet and the retreating defender for dead inside the area.

He wasn't finished. Di Maria spotted his brilliant movement and duly obliged with another defence-splitting pass, one no Brugge defender could intercept as Mbappe remained composed to complete his first Champions League hattrick. His post-match comments spoke volumes too, personal achievements are great and will continue flooding his way but Kylian is aware of the bigger picture and how important his presence is to PSG's success.