Mbappe's second-half penalty, when Andrew Gravillon was sent
off, and Moise Kean's strike helped PSG to victory after Lille, who host the
Champions League runners-up on Sunday, beat Dijon by the same scoreline.
Lyon dropped to third place, a point behind PSG, after a
dramatic 2-2 draw with Brest.
Marseille, who have two games in hand on the top three,
slipped five points behind the leaders after a 2-1 defeat at Rennes.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel after the game said that Neymar, who
sprained his ankle last Sunday against Lyon, could return this weekend.
"For Neymar we will do everything -- that is the good
news," said the German. "I can't say 'No, he's not playing against
Lille'. It is possible. We can try, we will try everything."
PSG had 81 percent of possession in the first half against
struggling Lorient without creating many clear-cut chances, with Lorient's
Teremas Moffi wasting the best opportunity of the opening period when he fired
wide when clean through on goal.
But the match was effectively decided less than five minutes
after the break, as visiting full-back Gravillon was harshly sent off for a
nudge on Mbappe in the box.
The forward, sporting a striking new blue hairstyle, stepped
up to power the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
It took Tuchel's men 10 more minutes to secure victory, with
Rafinha setting up Kean to grab his eighth goal since joining PSG on loan from
Everton in the close season.
Yazici strikes again for Lille
Earlier, in-form Yusuf Yazici scored the winner as Lille
eased to a 2-0 victory at Dijon, despite uncertainty behind the scenes at the
table-toppers.
Lille president and owner Gerard Lopez revealed earlier on
Wednesday that he could sell the club to foreign investors, against the
backdrop of a difficult financial situation exacerbated by the coronavirus
pandemic.
"I'm analysing the takeover offer I received,"
Lopez told AFP, adding that if a sale took place he would "completely
withdraw" from the club.
But Lille continued their serene progress on the pitch this
season, as Turkish international Yazici gave them a 19th-minute lead with his
fifth league goal of the campaign on only his third Ligue 1 start this term.
The 23-year-old calmly slotted home compatriot Zeki Celik's
cutback to net for the 11th time in all competitions in a breakthrough season.
Lille thought they had been awarded a late spot-kick for a
trip on Burak Yilmaz, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
Christophe Galtier's men did double their advantage in
injury time, though, wrapping up the three points as Timothy Weah, son of
former Ballon d'Or winner George Weah, grabbed his first Ligue 1 goal since
scoring for PSG in August 2018.
"We'll next host PSG in a massive match in an empty
stadium (on Sunday)," said Lille coach Galtier.
"The two teams will be tired and the Parisians might be
slightly superior.
"But in one match, there is everything to play
for."
Lyon were a goal down at half-time against Brest after
goalkeeper Anthony Lopes's own goal, but Memphis Depay's penalty and a goal for
Maxwel Cornet looked to have seen them keep pace with Lille.
But Romain Faivre scored a re-taken spot-kick in the 93rd
minute after Brendan Chardonnet's initial effort was saved by Lopes, who was
off his line.
Marseille led at Rennes through Pape Gueye, but the
midfielder was sent off in the 36th minute and goals from Hamari Traore and
Adrien Hunou ended the home team's nine-match winless streak.
Elsewhere, fifth-placed Montpellier slipped six points
behind Lille with a 2-0 home defeat by Metz, while Monaco fell to a third
straight league loss, beaten 3-0 at home by Lens.