Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe stars as Paris St-Germain beat Saint-Etienne 3-1

Kylian Mbappe scored two goals and created another as Ligue 1 leaders Paris St-Germain fought back to beat relegation-threatened Saint-Etienne.

Lionel Messi set Mbappe up for the equaliser with a fine pass into the box after Denis Bouanga had given the visitors a shock early lead.

Messi again provided the assist as Mbappe added a second after the break.

Mbappe then created a third for Danilo Pereira to complete the win and send PSG 16 points clear at the top.

The two goals from the 23-year-old French striker saw him join Zlatan Ibrahimovic as PSG's second highest-ever scorer with 156 goals.

Mbappe's stunning cross with the outside of his boot to find Pereira at the back post for a header ensured PSG avoided dropping points for the second successive week, having been upstaged 3-1 by Nantes seven days earlier.

Saint-Etienne, however, made sure it was no easy return to winning ways for PSG despite being a side that started the day 15 places and 37 points behind the runaway competition leaders.

Defeat leaves Saint-Etienne two places and one point above the relegation spots, having also played one game more than every side below them.

Formation 4-3-3

Formation 5-4-1

Match ends, Paris Saint Germain 3, Saint-Etienne 1.

Second Half ends, Paris Saint Germain 3, Saint-Etienne 1.

Attempt blocked. Georginio Wijnaldum (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ángel Di María.

Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain) is shown the yellow card.

Lionel Messi (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Mickael Nade (Saint-Etienne).

Attempt missed. Mahdi Camara