Hakimi's Masterclass: PSG Dominates Le Havre 5-1 with Star Fullback's Hat-trick

Achraf Hakimi, the dynamic fullback for Paris Saint-Germain, delivered a stellar performance, scoring a hat-trick as PSG thrashed bottom-placed Le Havre 5-1 on Friday to extend their lead in Ligue 1. Despite several key players being sidelined with injuries, the European champions showcased their depth by resting more of their important players and still securing a commanding victory. This win propelled them to 20 points from their first nine league matches, putting them two points ahead of Lille and four points clear of third-placed Rennes.

In other Ligue 1 action, Lille climbed to second place following a late winner from veteran Olivier Giroud, who came off the bench to score in the 86th minute for a 1-0 derby victory against RC Lens. Meanwhile, Rennes suffered a significant 5-2 defeat at Nice, who continued their strong run of form with their fourth win in five games. Elye Wahi was the star for Nice, netting a hat-trick and helping his team move up to seventh place after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.

Hakimi's contribution to PSG's win was immense, extending beyond his three goals. He also provided assists for goals scored by Mika Godts and Senny Mayulu, after Le Havre had initially taken the lead through Josh Maja. This victory marked PSG's ninth consecutive win across all competitions.

Le Havre's struggles continued with a fifth consecutive defeat, leaving them at the bottom of the table with two points. They briefly offered hope when Maja put them ahead early on. However, Hakimi quickly equalized by assisting Godts, before putting PSG in front in the 28th minute with a shot at the near post. He then extended the lead in the 55th minute with a free-kick into the bottom corner. Hakimi was instrumental again in a counter-attack that led to Mayulu scoring PSG's fourth goal in the 62nd minute, before completing his hat-trick with a deflected shot in the 69th minute.

PSG coach Luis Enrique expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "I am happy because some players had very little playing time. If we want to win trophies, we need everyone."