VANNES, France, Jan 4, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as
Paris Saint-Germain overcame their Covid crisis and a drone-related
interruption to ease into the French Cup last 16 on Monday with a 4-0 win
over fourth-division Vannes.

  Despite the absence of five PSG players including superstar Lionel Messi
and Danilo after positive tests for Covid-19, Mauricio Pochettino's side were
never worried by the Brittany minnows.

  Defender Presnel Kimpembe, wearing the captain's armband, headed in after
28 minutes just after the match had been interrupted for a minute after a
drone flew over the Rabine Stadium in western France.

  Kimpembe then set up Mbappe for the second just before the hour mark with
the French forward completing a hat-trick in an 18-minute spell.

  Mbappe added a second after 71 minutes after good work from Marco Verratti
and Xavi Simons adding a third six minutes later for his 150th goal in a PSG
jersey.

  Vannes' Cup dream was over with the Brittany side also missing out on their
hoped for bonanza after the French government's crowd restrictions with 5,000
spectators only permitted at outdoor events.

  Vannes had been hoping for a 9,600 sell-out and according to their
president Maxime Ray are set to miss out on revenue of 250,000 euros
($282,000).

  "We are missing out on what is a fortune to us," he said.

  Covid could also overshadow Tuesday's Lens versus Lille Cup clash with
seven players from the visiting team confirmed positive.

  "We had four Covid cases which has now become seven," said Lille coach
Jocelyn Gourvennec, without naming the players.

  "We're going to re-test all the players tomorrow (Tuesday) morning."

  Monday's drone incident was another in a series of problems French football
have had since the start of the 2021/22 season.

  Sunday's Cup match between fourth-division Jura Sud and Saint-Etienne, in
Louhans, was interrupted for about 20 minutes due to smoke and fireworks
launched by supporters of the Greens.

  Jura Sud goalkeeper Cedric Mensah described his shock on Monday after crowd
trouble "cut the legs" of his team in a 4-1 French Cup defeat to Ligue 1
outfit Saint-Etienne.

  "I heard a powerful bang and felt a pain in my right ear. I had the
impression that a bomb had exploded and felt the pitch vibrate," he said.

  "The doctor explained to me that if it had exploded closer, I could have
pierced my eardrum. At the time, it really shook me."