Kylian Mbappe continued his sensational form as he was on the score-sheet with Joao Moutinho to help Moncao extend their lead at the top to five-points after beating Bordeaux in the Ligue 1.
The 18-year-old Mbappe had his 10th league goal of the season in the 68th minute on Radamel Falcao’s assist, before Moutinho doubled the lead six minutes later with a brilliant curling shot outside the box. However, the French league leader, who tallied 123 goals in all competitions so far this season, still suffered a leak defense to hand Bordeaux striker Diego Rolan one goal back.
Monaco has targeted at the comeback from a 5-3 loss in the first-leg of UEFA Champions League last 16 against Manchester City next Wednesday. Their top scorer Falcao, who netted 16 league goals, was benched on in the 65th minute, and his header gave Mbappe a low shot from just inside the penalty area.
Moutinho then collected Bernardo Silva’s pass and finished a superb shot 25 meters away into the top left corner of the goal, before the visitors got one back as Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic failed in a one-on-one encounter against Rolan, and the latter put the ball into an empty net.
One concern for Monaco was that Falcao clutched his ribs in a heavy challenge against Nicolas Pallois, and was uncertain to feature in the crucial clash with Man City.
Monaco sat atop with a five-point lead over second-ranked Nice, who drew 2-2 with Caen on Friday. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain could cut Monaco’s margin to three points with a Sunday’s road victory over bottom side Lorient.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Guingamp crushed Bastia 5-0, moving up from 11th to eighth. Montpellier lost to Nantes 3-2, Nancy lost to Lille 2-1, and Rennes tied Dijon at 1-1.