Kylian Mbappe celebrated a French Cup victory against Lyon, marking a stellar domestic double for Luis Enrique’s team in a triumphant finale to his illustrious tenure with Paris St-Germain.
The match, held at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy, saw Ousmane Dembele rise to the occasion with a header, converting Nuno Mendes’ cross into the first goal for PSG. The lead was doubled by Fabian Ruiz, who persisted through a blocked attempt to secure their second goal, despite the valiant efforts of Lyon’s Irish defender Jake O’Brien.
O’Brien, aged 23, managed to score with a header from Rayan Cherki’s corner, igniting a flicker of hope for Lyon with his fifth goal since his transfer from Crystal Palace.
At 25, France’s forward Mbappe bids farewell to PSG as the club’s top scorer, boasting an impressive record of 256 goals in 308 appearances since his 2017 switch from Monaco. Speculation is rife about his next move, with Real Madrid appearing to be the likely destination, concluding their long-standing chase.
During his seven-year spell with PSG, Mbappe has amassed an enviable collection of titles, including six Ligue 1 championships, four French Cups, and two League Cups. As the season drew to a close, Luis Enrique strategically limited Mbappe’s league appearances, preparing the team for a future without their star player, though Mbappe was featured in the cup final lineup.
However, the celebratory spirit was marred by violent incidents involving fans approximately 100 kilometers from the venue at the Fresnes-les-Montauban A1 motorway toll. The confrontations escalated to the point of setting a bus ablaze and causing damage to four others, with at least eight police officers sustaining injuries.
French President Emmanuel Macron, present at the match, expressed his strong disapproval of the violence to BFM TV, stating, “Sporting events should embody the spirit of joy and sportsmanship. Such acts of violence are utterly condemnable.”
Reported By BBC Sports
