Mbappe scores on return as PSG beat Nice

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Kylian Mbappe scored on his return from a COVID-19 quarantine as Paris Saint-Germain claimed a 3-0 victory at Nice in Sunday's Ligue 1 action.

The French striker was one of the seven PSG players that tested positive before the new season and missed their opening three games - of which PSG suffered defeats to Lens and Marseille and won 1-0 over Metz.

Mbappe won and converted a penalty in the 38th minute to put PSG in front and Angel Di Maria added another in first-half injury time after Mbappe's attempt was saved by Nice goalkeeper but the Argentine winger tucked the loose ball away from close range.

"It's great to play and to be back with my teammates. I return with a victory and a goal, so I am happy. We are getting our feeling back, our way of playing," the 21-year-old Mbappe said after the match.

Di Maria turned provider in the second half as his free-kick set up for Marquinhos's header to seal the game 3-0.

"We were the better side, that's for sure. We had lots of chances to score several goals in the first half, but it was still tight because Nice also had chances after our first two goals. But Keylor was exceptional," said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel.

The win was a relief for the German coach and the struggling defending champions as they have scored only one goal in the opening three games, which was the worst record for the capital club since the 1984-1985 season.

League leaders Saint-Etienne wasted a two-goal lead and missed out on a fourth straight win after drawing 2-2 at Nantes.

Midfielder Adil Aouchiche opened the score for the Greens only two minutes into the game after slotting home Yvan Neyou's cross. Left back Yvann Macon extended the lead in the 66th minute but the hosts responded quickly as Moses Simon pulled one back only five minutes later, before Renaud Emond levelled the score for Nice five minutes before the final whistle.

But the draw was enough for Saint-Etienne to top the standings on goal difference over second-placed Rennes.

Seventh-placed Marseille needed a late header from substitute Valere Germain to clinch a 1-1 home draw with Lille in the latest match of the day. Brazilian forward Luiz Araujo helped Lille take the lead at the start of the second half and could have doubled it when his effort hit the cross bar in the 65th minute.

Andre Villas-Boas' side beat PSG 1-0 last Sunday, ending a nine-year winless run against the old rivals, but suffered a bitter 2-0 defeat to St-Etienne on Thursday.

Germain's header in the 85th minute, which was set up by a corner from Morgan Sanson, avoided a second straight home defeat for last season's runners-up.

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