PARIS – Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting line-up and scored as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nice 3-1 in the French Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Mbappe was only used as a substitute in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Reims in Ligue 1 and was withdrawn in one of six changes made by coach Luis Enrique.
He responded by opening the scoring in the 14th minute at the Parc des Princes and Fabian Ruiz soon doubled the home side’s lead.
Gaetan Laborde pulled one back for Nice before the break, but Brazil defender Lucas Beraldo’s first goal for PSG sealed the win on the hour mark.
Capital, a record 14-time French Cup winners, now face Rennes at home in the semi-finals on April 3, while Lyon host second-tier Valenciennes in the second tie a day earlier.
PSG have won the competition six times in the last decade but have failed to do so in either of the last two years, lifting the trophy over Toulouse last season. This year’s final will be played in Lille on May 25.
Mbappe has either started on the bench or been substituted in each of PSG’s four Ligue 1 games since informing the club of his intention to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.
However, he played a major role as the Qatari-owned side beat Real Sociedad in the last 16 of the Champions League, with Luis Enrique hinting that he will continue to field the France captain from the start in the domestic knockout competition.
Wearing the captain’s armband with regular skipper Marquinhos still injured, Mbappe stepped up to play a quick two with Ruiz in the box and poke the ball over the line for his 35th club goal of the season in all competitions.
Also read: Paris 2024 hopes to be model for lower-carbon Olympics
Goncalo Ramos flashed a great chance and Mbappe saw a deflected effort bounce off the post before a goalkeeping error allowed the home side to extend their lead just after the half-hour mark.
Marcin Bulka, Nice’s giant Polish goalscorer, dealt with a reverse pass under pressure from Ousmane Dembele, who seized the ball and laid it back for Ruiz to score.
Ineos-owned Nice are the only team to beat PSG at home this season, winning 3-2 at the Parc des Princes in September.
Second in Ligue 1 midway through the season, their challenge at the top of the table has faded after six games without a win.
They managed to score in the 37th minute when Gaetan Laborde controlled and fired home after a good run by Jeremie Boga.
Yet PSG effectively ended any hopes of a Nice comeback in the 60th minute when a corner was played short for Vitinha and his cross was headed in at the back post by Beraldo.
The 20-year-old defender has quickly become a regular in the Paris team since his arrival from Sao Paulo in the January transfer window.
Shortly after, Bulka was knocked on the post by Lee Kang’s free-kick, who then needed lengthy treatment after taking a knee to the face from Ramos and was left with a bloody nose as PSG saw out victory.
