Paris Saint-Germain opened up a provisional, seven-point gap at the Ligue 1 summit after thumping Angers SCO 5-0 on Saturday. Kylian Mbappe opened and closed the scoring at Stade Raymond Kopa, with Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani (two) also getting in on the act. Dani Alves notched two assists, while Mbappe, Draxler and substitute Lucas Moura also laid goals on in a convincing team performance without Neymar, Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Thiago Motta.
Positives
PSG coach Unai Emery will have been pleased by the complete performance produced by his players. With the exception of Javier Pastore and Layvin Kurzawa, every member of the starting XI made significant contributions, and even substitute Lucas chipped in. It was truly a team effort.
Although the likes of Cavani, Alves and Rabiot all deserve praise for their displays, Mbappe merits recognition because of recent scrutiny. The France international might have been rested against RSC Anderlecht in midweek, but Emery stuck with him, and although he did not score then, he repaid his manager's faith with two goals and an assist on Saturday afternoon.
Like Mbappe, Draxler's showing is particularly worthy of acknowledgement because of his situation. No longer a guaranteed member of Emery's starting XI, the Germany international is being retrained as a central midfielder, and he really impressed in this new role on Saturday. A goal and an assist helped Les Parisiens' No. 23 catch the eye at Stade Raymond Kopa.
Negatives
The only real negative was Javier Pastore. Handed a rare opportunity to impress by Emery, the Argentina international completely missed his chance, and it feels inevitable that his time at Parc des Princes is drawing to a close.
Manager rating out of 10
8 -- Emery was rewarded for standing by the 4-3-3 formation and most of his regular starting XI with a dominant performance and a large victory. The 46-year-old even made two changes before the 70-minute mark.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alphonse Areola, 6 -- The youth academy graduate wasn't required to do too much, but he did field one second-half shot from distance with great authority, which is indicative of his current confidence created by Emery's trust in him.
DF Dani Alves, 8 -- Although Thomas Meunier does not deserve being demoted to a regular substitute's role, it's hard to argue with the Brazil international after he notched a pair of assists inside the opening 15 minutes of an attack-minded display.
DF Thiago Silva (c), 6 -- Although PSG were rarely threatened by Angers' attack, the captain was solid enough alongside Presnel Kimpembe with Marquinhos absent.
DF Presnel Kimpembe, 5 -- The homegrown youngster was largely calm alongside skipper Silva, but the fledgling France international picked up another booking, which is something he still needs to work on. Because of this latest yellow card, the 22-year-old will now serve a suspension.
DF Layvin Kurzawa, 4 -- After a clinical showing against Anderlecht in Europe, the France international left-back came back to earth with a bump in Angers with a disappointing performance. He and Pastore struggled to show any sort of understanding, and the defender might have been better pushed forward with Yuri Berchiche as full-back instead.
MF Adrien Rabiot, 8 -- The France international put in one of his best performances in the deep-lying, midfield role and was magnificent at times, particularly in the build-up to both of Cavani's goals.
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MF Marco Verratti, 7 -- The Italy international continues to improve and combined well with both Rabiot and Draxler in the middle, which is something Emery should consider even when Motta is fit again. However, he did pick up a late booking.
MF Julian Draxler, 8 -- The German scored one and set up Cavani's second before making way for Giovani Lo Celso and looked more at home than ever alongside Rabiot and Verratti.
FW Kylian Mbappe, 8 -- It was an action-packed outing for the Frenchman in Angers, with two goals, an assist and a booking to his name after the final whistle. The 18-year-old took both goals well and stylishly assisted Cavani's first.
FW Edinson Cavani, 8 -- The Uruguay international scored his 100th and 101st Ligue 1 goals and is now just nine goals away from equalling Zlatan Ibrahimovic's all-time PSG record of 156 across all competitions. El Matador's second strike was particularly impressive, starting the move in his own half and finishing it at the other end less than 20 seconds later.
FW Javier Pastore, 3 -- The Argentina international was almost invisible at times and served largely as a spectator while his teammates tore Angers apart.
Substitutes
DF Thomas Meunier, 6 -- Given 27 minutes in Alves' place toward the end, the Belgium international was solid but unspectacular.
MF Giovani Lo Celso, 6 -- Sent on for Draxler after 64 minutes, Lo Celso slotted into the midfield without problem but needs longer on the pitch.
FW Lucas Moura, NR -- Given 18 minutes after replacing Cavani, the Brazil international assisted Mbappe's second goal and PSG's fifth with a good burst of pace and pinpoint pass.
Source: espn.co.uk