First-half Hakimi double helps PSG to comfortable win over Brest

Achraf Hakimi struck twice in the first half as Paris Saint-Germain won 3-0 at Brest to keep up the pace at the top of Ligue 1.

PSG -- who thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 in the Champions League in midweek -- made a positive start as they looked to end a run of back-to-back Ligue 1 draws.

Senny Mayulu got clear on the right, but Brest goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki was out quickly to close down the danger.

PSG broke the deadlock in the 29th minute when midfielder Vitinha lofted the ball into the box, where captain Hakimi sent a first time effort into the far corner.

Hakimi struck twice in the space of 10 minutes in the first-half.
Hakimi struck twice in the space of 10 minutes in the first-half.
(Photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images)

Morocco right-back Hakimi struck again five minutes before half-time following a swift counter attack when he exchanged passes with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before slotting in an angled drive.

Brest -- who had drawn their last two matches and altogether were unbeaten in four -- regrouped for the second half.

The home side were given the opportunity to get themselves back into the match when awarded a penalty in the 57th minute.

Initially appeals for handball by Lee Kang-in were turned down after it appeared to have deflected first off his face.

However, following lengthy discussions with the VAR, referee Jeremie Pignard was advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and eventually pointed to the spot.

Romain Del Castillo, though, slipped as he wound up take the penalty, sending his shot off into the stands.

With Brest's tempo beginning to drop after the missed spot-kick, Kang-in then tried his luck with a 25-yard strike which drifted wide.

Kvaratskhelia saw his angled shot following a corner saved by Majecki as PSG continued to press for a third.

Both sides made several changes in the closing 20 minutes, as PSG sent on both Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos as their returns from injuries continued, and the match looked to be fizzling out.

But substitute Désiré Doué saw his fierce shot come back off the post late on, before then adding a third in stoppage time after being played in by Warren Zaïre-Emery.