Kylian Mbappe capped his Paris St-Germain career with a triumphant French Cup final win over Lyon, helping Luis Enrique’s team secure a domestic double for the season.
Key Moments of the Match:
- Early Dominance: PSG took control early with Ousmane Dembele scoring the opener with a header from Nuno Mendes’ cross at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
- Securing the Lead: Fabian Ruiz doubled the lead, bundling in a goal after his initial attempt was blocked on the line by Lyon’s defender Jake O’Brien.
- Lyon’s Response: O’Brien, who joined Lyon from Crystal Palace last summer, gave Lyon a glimmer of hope by heading in from a Rayan Cherki corner, marking his fifth goal for the club.
Mbappe’s Remarkable PSG Career:
- Record Goalscorer: Mbappe leaves PSG as their all-time top scorer, amassing 256 goals in 308 appearances since his transfer from Monaco in 2017.
- Titles and Achievements: During his seven-year tenure, Mbappe won six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, and two League Cups.
- Expected Move to Real Madrid: Speculation is rife that Mbappe is set to join Real Madrid, ending an eight-year pursuit by the Spanish giants. Despite limited starts in PSG’s final league games as the club prepared for his departure, Mbappe featured prominently in the cup final.
Violence Mars Pre-Match Celebrations:
- Fan Clashes: There were violent incidents 100km away from the stadium at the A1 motorway toll in Fresnes-les-Montauban. Rival supporters clashed, leading to the burning of one bus and damage to four others.
- Injuries and Condemnation: At least eight police officers were injured in the violence. French President Emmanuel Macron, present at the match, condemned the clashes, emphasizing that sporting events should celebrate joy and sport, not violence.