PSG win French Cup as fans return - but Mbappe limps off in tears

4 years ago 259

Paris St-Germain and St Etienne fans

Five thousands fans were allowed inside the 80,000 seater Stade de France

Paris St-Germain overcame an injury to Kylian Mbappe to beat 10-man Saint-Etienne and win the French Cup in a game that saw some fans allowed into the Stade de France.

This was the first game in France after the league was ended in April because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Neymar opened the scoring in a fiery first half that saw Loic Perrin sent off for a bad foul on Kylian Mbappe.

It prompted a melee on the pitch before the injured Mbappe had to go off.

The France international left the pitch in tears and later returned to the dugout on crutches. He will be a serious doubt for PSG's Champions League quarter-final with Atalanta in August.

Neymar's goal proved enough to seal a 13th French Cup for PSG as the second half played out with few incidents of note, with both sides showing tiredness on their return to competitive action.

Mbappe injury takes shine off win

Mbappe left the pitch in tears after suffering the injury

PSG were awarded the league title after the season was ended early and this win means they have completed a league and cup double.

However, their hopes of adding League Cup and Champions League success to that have been dented by the injury to Mbappe.

With many players struggling to get up to speed after four months without competitive football, Mbappe was one of the most lively players on the pitch in the opening stages and it was his powerful shot that led to the opener as Jessy Moulin spilled the ball at Neymar's feet for the opener.

PSG were considerably less threatening after Mbappe went off injured and a lengthy absence will be a real blow to the French champions hopes of success in Europe, with the 21-year-old having scored 29 goals in 33 appearances for PSG this season.

Mbappe had scored six goals in four appearances before football was suspended because of the coronavirus

More to follow.

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