Monaco, managed by Leonardo Jardim, remain top of Ligue 1 after a 5-0 win over FC Metz at the weekend. They are three points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain with a far superior goal difference.
They’ve scored an impressive 75 league goals already this term – an average of three per game – which is 25 more than PSG, their nearest goalscoring challenger. No side in any of Europe’s top leagues can match that kind of firepower.
Their win over Metz came courtesy of a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick and two goals from the rejuvenated Falcao.
Mbappe, recently compared to Thierry Henry by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, looks a fine prospect. At just 18, this was his second senior hat-trick of his career having bagged three in a 7-0 win over Rennes in the Coupe de France back in December,
And Falcao, something of a disappointment during his time at Manchester United and Chelsea, has once again found his goalscoring form. He now has 19 goals in 23 games this season and looks to have rediscovered the instincts in front of goal that made him Europe’s most feared No. 9 during his Atletico Madrid days.
Découvrez les résultats et le classement. 37 buts inscrits➡️ record de la saison ⚽️!
— Ligue 1 (@Ligue1) February 13, 2017
Quel club a fait la bonne opération lors de cette J25🤔? pic.twitter.com/CyVbV91TWc
Mbappe opened the scoring after seven minutes with a first-time finish from Falcao’s knock-down, before the Colombian added a second three minutes later with a clever near-post strike.
The Principality were three up inside 20 minutes when Mbappe cut in from the left and fired a powerful right-footed shot past Thomas Didillon.
Mbappe then became the youngest player since Jeremy Menez in 2005 to score a Ligue 1 hat-trick when he tapped home from inside the area after fine work from Gabriel Boschilia.
3 - @KMbappe is the youngest player to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1 (18 yo & 2 mo) since Jérémy Menez in 2005 (17 yo & 8 mo). Promise.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) February 11, 2017
And Falcao added further gloss when he finished neatly from close range after Almamy Toure’s cross from the left.
The only negative for Monaco was the injury to Boschilia that saw him substituted with 30 minutes remaining.
City, undoubtedly, face a difficult task in a week’s time.
Monaco team that faced Metz: Subasic, Toure, Glik, Raggi, Mendy (Diallo 64’), Silva, Tavares, João Moutinho, Boschilia (Dirarat 69’), Falcao (Cardonaat 81’), Mbappe-Lottin.