Le Mans 1, PSG 4: Tuchel’s men ease through to quarter finals

KYLIAN Mbappe scored for a sixth game running as Paris Saint-Germain eased into quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue with a 4-1 win over Ligue 2 side, Le Mans at MMArena on Wednesday.

The Ligue 1 champions made eight changes from their 4-0 win over Saint-Etienne on Sunday but proved too strong for Le Mans, who were the last remaining team from outside the top flight in the competition.

Pablo Sarabia, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Mbappe were all on target in the first half for PSG, who added a fourth goal through Angel Di Maria in the 47th minute.

Substitute Harrison Manzala pulled one back for the hosts, but Thomas Tuchel’s men – record eight-time winners of the competition – saw things through to make it five wins in a row in all competitions.

Sarabia timed his run well to get on the end of Di Maria’s left-sided cross and fire PSG ahead, with Pierre Patron getting two hands to the ball but failing to keep it out.

Le Mans eliminated Nice in the last round but their hopes of causing another upset took a hit when Mbappe squared the ball to Choupo-Moting after being played in by Marco Verratti’s quick free-kick.

Mbappe added a third for the visitors 87 seconds later by taking Verratti’s pass in his stride, holding off Pierre Lemonnier and beating Patron to extend his scoring run.

Some slack defending and goalkeeping early in the second half gifted PSG a fourth goal, Di Maria’s attempt from range squirming through Patron’s grasp.

Manzala cut inside and guided a shot away from Sergio Rico to give Le Mans something to celebrate, but it was plain sailing for the Ligue 1 giants in a quiet end to the match.