Hakimi sparkles with hat-trick as PSG ease past Le Havre

Right back Achraf Hakimi claimed a first career hat-trick and provided two assists as Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain came from behind to thrash bottom club Le Havre 5-1 on Friday.

The French and European champions briefly looked in danger of suffering a major shock when former Sunderland and West Brom forward Josh Maja gave the winless hosts an 18th-minute lead.

But captain Hakimi set up Mika Godts to level before completing the turnaround with a smart finish two minutes later and then curling home a fine 20-yard free-kick early in the second half.

The Morocco international, who had not scored this season ahead of kick-off, completed his landmark treble in fortuitous fashion in the 69th minute, after his through ball allowed Senny Mayulu to register the visitors’ fourth goal.

PSG’s victory was their ninth in a row in all competitions – and sixth successive league win – after they picked up just a point from their opening three fixtures.

In the continued absence of key attackers Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia through injury, the Parisiens boss Luis Enrique made five changes to his starting XI following Monday’s 2-0 success over Lyon.

His side were overwhelming favourites to continue their recent run of form but quickly fell behind.

Midfielder Mayulu – one of the men recalled – was dispossessed deep in opposition territory and, at the end of a swift Le Havre counter-attack, Rayan Fofana crossed from the right for Maja to tap home his fourth goal of the season.

Ferran Torres was denied a leveller by Le Havre’s debutant goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart before PSG changed the course of the contest with a quickfire double.

Belgium winger Godts levelled in the 26th minute, slotting into the bottom-left corner for his second goal in as many games after Hakimi superbly controlled Lucas Hernandez’s long pass and centred.

Hakimi raced clear to beat Bodart at his near post two minutes later following Mayulu’s through ball, with VAR overturning an incorrect offside decision.

Sota Nakamura and Fofana threatened equalizers, but Le Havre fell further behind just 10 minutes into the second half.

After Amir Richardson fouled Maghnes Akliouche, Hakimi expertly whipped the resulting set-piece into the bottom-right corner from the left of the 18-yard box.

The game was then taken away from Le Havre in a pivotal 62nd minute.

Maja almost halved the deficit when he headed against the outside of the left post from Djibril Ouziad’s right-wing cross.

PSG immediately broke and, after Bodart raced out of his area in an attempt to intercept Hakimi’s pass, Mayulu touched the ball past him before calmly stroking into the unguarded net from 30 yards.

Le Havre have picked up just two points all season.

Their misery was completed 21 minutes from time as the impressive Hakimi celebrated a milestone moment when the ball rebounded into the goal off his right thigh after Bodart saved his initial effort following Godts’ low cross.