Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe scored twice. Neymar added another as Paris Saint-Germain thumped Maccabi Haifa 7-2 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday to sail into the Champions League last 16.
The star attacking trio found the net to put the hosts up 3-0 inside just 35 minutes. Messi produced another elegant finish just before the interval to complete an eye-catching first-half attacking display.
There was a slight deceleration in the second half, with Mbappe curling in for his second before an own goal from Maccabi’s Sean Goldberg and the seventh goal by substitute Carlos Soler completed the rout.
Messi, who also assisted the goals for Neymar and Soler, now has 11 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for PSG this season, already matching his goal total from his disappointing first campaign in the French capital.
Messi, Mbappe and Neymar also scored in the reverse fixture in Israel last month, which PSG won 3-1. Before Goldberg’s own goal on Tuesday, PSG’s past 19 Champions League goals had been scored by a member of the “MNM,” dating back to last season.
Galtier’s side are level on 11 points with also-qualified Benfica but now has a comfortable edge on goal difference.
PSG will travel to Juventus in the final round of group fixtures next week, knowing they need only to match Benfica’s result on the road against Maccabi Haifa to clinch the top spot in the group.
Despite their heavy defeat, Maccabi remain level on three points with Juve and will go into their last game still hopeful of sealing a Europa League spot.
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