Cavani and Neymar fire PSG nine points clear in Ligue 1

Kylian Mbappe, who was making his return to the Stade Louis II after joining PSG on loan for the season, missed a golden opportunity to put his new employers ahead in only the second minute of the game. Neymar picked him out with an inch-perfect through ball and the striker easily rounded the onrushing Danijel Subasic, but he somehow sent a left-footed strike wide with the goal gaping.

Despite the early warning, Monaco didn’t learn from their mistake and soon found themselves behind. Adrien Rabiot slipped in Julian Draxler on the left byline and he cut back for Cavani, who expertly clipped the ball over Subasic and into the net.

Monaco’s best chance of the opening period came on the half-hour mark after Draxler brought down Keita Balde on the edge of the box. Radamel Falcao stepped up, but his strike fizzed just over the bar.

The visitors, however, continued to press and came close to doubling their lead just before halftime. Mbappe drove down the right and switched the play to Draxler, but his driven effort aimed for the bottom corner was superbly tipped away by Subasic.

PSG started the second-half in similar fashion to the first and saw Neymar hit the post and Mbappe agonisingly under hit a chip before they scored their second goal of the night.

Almamy Toure brought down Neymar in the box, giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. The Brazilian dusted himself down and slowly strided towards the ball, waiting for Subasic to make his move, before calmly slotting home.

Mbappe spurned another opening to score against his former side with 20 minutes to play. He clearly didn’t have his shooting boots on as he latched onto Cavani's lay-off before blasting over the bar from close range.

Monaco found a lifeline after Dani Alves brought down Rony Lopes on the edge of the box, allowing Moutinho to have a late attempt on goal. He fired into PSG’s wall, but the ball took a huge deflection of Mbappe, which directed the strike over Alphonse Areola and into the net.

But the new-found hope didn’t last long as PSG closed out the game with relative ease to secure all three points and move nine points clear at the top of Ligue 1.