No Messi, no Neymar but Mbappe on target as PSG extend huge Ligue 1 lead - in pictures

Mbappe and Kehrer on target as PSG go 11 points clear of second-placed Nice

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade Brest in Paris, France, 15 January 2022. EPA / CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe heads the ball. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe in action against Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizo. EPA

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe falls down in front of Brest's French defender Brendan Chardonnet. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Brest's Christophe Herelle fight for the ball . AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Portuguese defender Nuno Mendes celebrate after Thilo Kehrer scored their second. AFP

Brest's French defender Ronael Pierre-Gabriel in action. AFP

PSG's Kylian Mbappe speaks with head coach Mauricio Pochettino. AP Photo

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a goal. AFP

Brest's Jean-Kevin Duverne, left, is challenged by PSG's Thilo Kehrer. AP Photo

Paris Saint-Germain's Thilo Kehrer in action against Franck Honorat of Brest. EPA

Paris St Germain's Thilo Kehrer in action with Brest's Jean-Kevin Duverne. Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain's German defender Thilo Kehrer celebrates after scoring. AFP

Kylian Mbappe scored the opening goal as Paris Saint-Germain saw off Brest 2-0 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to 11 points.

Mauricio Pochettino's men had drawn four of their five previous league games before second-placed Nice closed to within eight points by beating Nantes 2-1 on Friday.

PSG also remain without Lionel Messi, who is still recovering after testing positive for Covid-19, while the injured Neymar watched on from the stands.

But the capital giants had little trouble in swatting aside Brest as Mbappe made it 10 goals in his last six appearances.

Brest were actually the better team early on and were only denied a surprise ninth-minute lead by a magnificent save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, returning from Covid, to tip away Irvin Cardona's shot when the visiting striker was clean through inside the area.

But PSG gradually started to take control of the match as the first half progressed and forged ahead in the 32nd minute.

Mbappe collected Georginio Wijnaldum's pass just inside the area, cut inside his man and drilled a fine strike in off the near post to score his 19th goal of the season.

PSG are still trying to persuade the World Cup-winner to sign a new contract before his current deal runs out at the end of the campaign.

PSG doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, as Nuno Mendes' trickery created space for a low cross which German defender Thilo Kehrer side-footed home to score his second goal in as many games.