Kylian Mbappe bagged a sensational hat-trick hours after rejecting Real Madrid, as PSG secured a 5-0 thrashing of Metz.

Paris Saint-Germain finished their 2021/22 Ligue 1 campaign on a positive note, thanks to a blistering 5-0 win over FC Metz on Saturday. The result means the French champions have won the league by a 15-point margin, while Metz are set to be directly relegated following St-Etienne’s draw with Nantes on the final day.

Heading into the game on the back of Kylian Mbappe’s renewal, there were positive vibes all around the PSG camp as they completely dominated Metz, especially during the first half. The attackers worked in tandem to make life difficult for the opposition defenders, with Kylian Mbappe drawing the first blood in the 25th minute.

Minutes later, the Frenchman doubled his tally before Neymar eventually made it 3-0 around the half-hour mark. It looked to be a long night ahead for Metz, who were looking quite vulnerable defensively. Although the visitors had their chances of making the game much more competitive, they were unable to make the most of them.

Mbappe completed his hat-trick early on in the second half before Angel Di Maria capped off a fine display by scoring the fifth goal of the night. It was a perfect farewell for the former Manchester United star who is set to leave the club at the end of the season.

Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over the PSG players in their comprehensive 5-0 win over Metz this weekend.

Keylor Navas: 6.5/10

Keylor Navas had to remain alert in the first 15 minutes of the game as Metz were able to create a few openings. After that, the PSG goalkeeper had a quiet game as Les Parisens dominated the proceedings throughout the ninety minutes. He was subbed off around the 83rd minute, and while the Costa Rican international has denied rumours of a potential exit at the end of the season, this might have been his PSG farewell.

Achraf Hakimi: 7/10

Achraf Hakimi was a vital cog in the PSG backline as he had a lot more defensive work to do than usual, especially in the early stages of the proceedings. The former Borussia Dortmund starlet looked quite solid, while offering decent support going forward. A steady performance from the right-back, who will be looking ahead to the new season.

Marquinhos: 7.5/10

Marquinhos was a bit rattled by Metz’s blistering start to the game. But he kept things neat and tidy at the heart of the PSG backline, offering very little freedom for the Metz forwards. His leadership and experience were key in helping PSG keep a clean sheet.

Sergio Ramos: 7.5/10

Sergio Ramos offered excellent defensive support for Marquinhos at the heart of the PSG defence. The veteran used his experience to good effect, while his ability to read the game came in handy on multiple occasions. It remains to be seen whether the former Real Madrid captain continues at PSG following a rather disappointing first season at the club.

Presnel Kimpembe: 7.5/10

Presnel Kimpembe was asked to start in a peculiar left-back role. It resulted in a bit more solidity in the PSG backline, especially when defending Metz’s counters. The Frenchman looked good with his positioning sense and aggression, as Metz offered very little threat on the far side.

Danilo Pereira: 7/10

Danilo Pereira operated in the defensive midfield role. He was not the flashiest player on the pitch, but he did his job well, offering security in the second line of press and winning the ball back for his team. It appears the Portuguese international could end up remaining at PSG beyond the summer as his defensive work ethic is valued highly.

Marco Verratti: 8/10

Marco Verratti provided the grace to Danilo’s grit in the PSG midfield. The Italian’s ability to carry the ball through half-spaces and find important forward passes played a key role in improving PSG’s approach play and keep up the pressure on the Metz team.

Angel Di Maria: 9/10

In what was his last game in PSG colours, Angel Di Maria dropped an attacking masterclass. He probed the Metz defenders quite well and always looked dangerous when taking on defences. He notably produced a superb assist for Mbappe’s opener before eventually getting on to the scoresheet in the second half. A perfect farewell for the Argentine.

Lionel Messi: 8/10

Lionel Messi had a good game as well, as he was a creator-in-chief for the PSG team this weekend. The Argentine hovered around the half-spaces and used his quick footwork to drift past defenders. His ability to find openings made life easier for the likes of Mbappe and Neymar, with the attacker notably assisting Mbappe for his second goal.

Neymar: 8.5/10

Neymar missed a glorious goalscoring opportunity in the second half, but the Brazilian was a menace for the Metz defence due to his unpredictable movements and excellent footwork in tight spaces. His seemingly telepathic combination play with Mbappe and Messi also made life difficult for the opposition. Neymar capped off his performance with a goal around the half-hour mark.

Kylian Mbappe: 10/10

Not much needs to be said about Kylian Mbappe, who repaid PSG’s faith in him by scoring an incredible hat-trick against Metz. He looked unstoppable on the night, offering pace, dynamism and technical prowess that made him unplayable at times. But what was particularly impressive about his performance is his productivity up top as he casually netted a hat-trick, though he could have scored a couple more.

The Frenchman’s link-up play with Messi and Neymar was also encouraging for PSG as they look to take Europe by storm next season.

SUBSTITUTES

Ander Herrera: N/A

A late replacement for Di Maria. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.

Georginio Wijnaldum: N/A

A late replacement for Neymar. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.

Idrissa Gueye: N/A

A late replacement for Verratti. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.

Alexander Letellier: N/A

A late replacement for Navas. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.

Thilo Kehrer: N/A

A late replacement for Hakimi. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.

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