Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain VS Maccabi Haifa: Lionel Messi goes on a rampage during PSG victory

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe scored twice, with Neymar also finding the back of the net once as a rampant PSG ran their less illustrious opponents riot. 

It says that PSG were 4-1 up in the first half, such was the dominance they showcased on the night. 

Messi got the ball rolling in the 19th minute, scoring with a trademark silky shot from outside the box after Mbappe teed him up. 

The Frenchman joined the party a few minutes later with a superb curled effort to double PSG's lead. 

And some more smooth combination play saw Messi and Mbappe combine to put Neymar through, whose shot went in off the post. 

Abdoulaye Seck pulled one back for the visitors thanks to an unmarked header from a set-piece, but Messi's second-night goal saw PSG go into the break with a 4-1 lead. 

However, Maccabi came out all guns blazing in the second half, and another poor defensive lapse from a corner once again saw Seck head one past Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

But that was as good as it got for Maccabi as PSG turned things up a notch. Mbappe scored his second goal of the night when picked out by Achraf Hakimi. 

Neymar continued to be a threat, and his excellent dribble on the wing and subsequent cross led to PSG's sixth goal – courtesy of an own goal from Sean Goldberg. 

Messi was denied a hat-trick when he saw a shot ricochet off the upright, but he was on hand to set up Carlos Soler for the seventh and final goal of the night. 

Afterwards, PSG coach Christophe Galtier spoke glowingly about his side and also shed some thoughts on the shape they played in. 

"I saw the players enjoy themselves, and that's very important," Galtier said when quizzed about the 4-3-3 system he used in this game. 

"I had to think about how our fantastic three players up front could express themselves as best as possible and that the system could be essential.

"It's very pleasant to train them, to see them play every day. For a coach, it's paradise."

For Maccabi, the defeat wasn't as bad when looked at in the bigger picture. They won't make it to the knockouts of the Champions League but can still make it to the Europa League knockouts. 

It is some ask – they will need to get points against Benfica and hope PSG can nick points off Juventus, who have had a torrid season in Europe up until now. 

But that is the hope for the Israeli side – and it isn't one they are giving up on as things stand. 

"We caught Paris on a good day. The smallest slip in concentration against players like that and they can score or have a big chance," Maccabi defender Dylan Batubinsika said.

"We managed to score twice today, which is positive, and we can still finish third in the group."