Hakimi's hat-trick and a two-minute swing sink Le Havre

Paris Saint Germain beat Le Havre 5-1 at the Stade Océane after a two-minute spell before half-time turned a game the hosts had been leading.

Le Havre led after 18 minutes, when Josh Maja finished a move started by Rayan Fofana, and the home side had reason to think they could hold on. Then Paris Saint Germain struck twice in the space of two minutes. Mika Godts levelled at 26, and Achraf Hakimi put the visitors in front at 28, a goal the video referee checked before confirming it. That short spell is the lens through which the rest of the match makes sense.

Hakimi scored three times, at 28, 55 and 69 minutes, and he also set up Godts and Senny Mayulu, which is why his rating of 9.1 is the highest on the pitch. Mayulu scored himself at 62 minutes, and by the time Hakimi was replaced at 71 the contest had long since been decided. Three goals and two assists in one match is the kind of return that tends to be remembered longer than the scoreline.

Paris Saint Germain had 71% of the ball, which is well above the 63.3% they average in away games this season. Le Havre had 29%, a long way short of the 48.4% they usually keep at home. Possession is simply the share of time each side spends with the ball, and this time it ran in the same direction as the goals. The visitors had the ball for most of the afternoon, and the hosts were largely chasing it.

Expected goals, usually shortened to xG, puts a value on each chance according to how often a shot like it goes in. Paris Saint Germain took 15 shots, fewer than their away average of 18.5, but ten of them were on target, and their total of 3.09 expected goals was far above the 1.9 they usually create on the road. Le Havre created 1.54, which is also above their home average of 1.37, so the hosts did better than usual in attack too. The difference is that the visitors made far more of their openings.

The same measure shows the cost for Le Havre at the back. Their 3.09 expected goals conceded is well above the 1.74 their home games usually allow. Goalkeeper A. Bodart made five saves, one more than Safonov, who made four for Paris Saint Germain. Five goals is a heavy return on a day when the hosts were under pressure from the first half hour onwards.

Form adds to the picture. Le Havre have not won at home this season, with no victories from eight matches and two points in total, which places them 18th on home results. Paris Saint Germain have won their last six away matches, and the table lists them first on away results with 17 points from eight games. The two records point in opposite directions, and this afternoon they were reflected on the pitch.

Maja's goal was the only one Le Havre scored, and his rating of 7.9 was the best on their side. It came before the first of Hakimi's three.

Player of the matchA. Hakimi3 goals · 2 assists9.1

Senny Mayulu1 goal · 1 assist8.7

M. Godts1 goal8.2

J. Maja1 goal7.9