'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
PSG recorded a routine win over Club Brugge, concluding their 2021-22 UEFA Champions League group-stage campaign with a 4-1 win. Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the first seven minutes, while Lionel Messi also bagged a brace.
The visitors' second-half surge saw them enjoy a strong period, culminating with a Mats Rits strike in the 68th minute. However, PSG restored their three-goal lead when Messi scored his second of the night with a 76th-minute penalty.
With group winners Manchester City (12) losing at Leipzig, PSG (11) will go into the knockouts on a winning note. On that note, here's a look at the five talking points from the game.
#5 Mbappe and Messi continue to show great promise together
After a quickfire brace, Mbappe turned provider in the 39th minute, setting up Messi, whose sweetly struck left-footed strike made it 3-0 for PSG.
Mbappe has now been the provider for three of Messi's six goals across competitions this season. Two of Messi's three other goals have come from the penalty spot.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner's pace allows him to skip past defenders on the flanks with ease, which he did a lot against Brugge. Messi, meanwhile, likes to sit a bit deeper nowadays. However, his movement around the box allows him to get into good scoring positions.
For Messi's first goal of the game, Mbappe sprinted across Jack Hendry before cutting a pass to the Argentine, who was in a good position outside the box. The duo's qualities complement each other. The Ligue 1 giants have not lost a game in which both players have scored.
#4 Clean sheet becoming a rarity for PSG
PSG conceded an avoidable goal against Club Brugge. The defenders and midfielders shut off, allowing Noa Lang, the best Brugge player on the pitch, make a marauding run virtually unopposed into the box.
Mats Rits had also made a smart run, keeping himself on the right-hand side of the box. Lang teed him the unmarked player with a pass, who shaped himself perfectly to find the far corner.
The goal meant PSG have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine games across competitions. That is something manager Mauricio Pochettino needs to ponder about.
#3 Messi and Mbappe enjoy record-breaking outings
Mbappe gave PSG a dream start when he scored from their first attacking move of the game.
With that strike, he registered his name in the history books. The young Frenchman broke his teammate Messi's record to become the youngest player to score 30 goals in the UEFA Champions League.
Messi himself had a great outing. With his first goal against Club Brugge, he equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of scoring against 38 different teams in the Champions League. His second of the night saw him overtake Pele's record of 757 career goals for club and country.
#2 PSG cruise past Club Brugge without Neymar
PSG were almost flawless in the first half. The club had two of the best attacking players in the world on the pitch, and took every opportunity to have a go at the Club Brugge goal.
The hosts recorded nine shots in the first half, with six of them on target. Messi and Mbappe had four and three key passes respectively. It looked like the club did not miss Neymar in the final third.
Messi has now scored in his first three home games with PSG in the Champions League, emulating Geroge Weah (1994) and Neymar (2017).
Nevertheless, Mbappe has been the standout player for the club this season, outshining both Messi and Neymar. He is the leading goalscorer and assist provider across all competitions. Meanwhile, Messi's smart positioning around the box allows him to be more involved in the game (only Marco Verratti and Abdou Diallo had more touches than Messi).
Messi and Mbappe have begun to click. However, it remains to be seen how Neymar, who has scored just three goals across competitions this season, fits into the jigsaw.
#1 PSG's dominant first-half display blows away Brugge
PSG finally delivered a dominant performance expected from their star-studded lineup. Even before the half-time whistle, the result of the game was put beyond doubt by Mauricio Pochettino's men.
Mbappe was the architect of an impressive first-half display, scoring a quick-fire brace and setting up Messi for PSG's third. The players had great exchanges, especially in the middle of the park and in the attacking third.
Though there was a drop in intensity after the restart, PSG quickly regrouped. However, failure to keep a clean sheet blotted an otherwise fine performance.
