Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino made a surprising return to watch Kylian Mbappe snap a four-game scoreless run with two goals as the league leaders crushed 10-man Montpellier 4-0 on Friday.

PSG moved three points clear of second-place Lille, which can move level on points by winning at fifth-place Rennes on Sunday but has a vastly inferior goal difference.

Click to Gallery

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, jumps over Montpellier's goalkeeper Jonas Omlin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino made a surprising return to watch Kylian Mbappe snap a four-game scoreless run with two goals as the league leaders crushed 10-man Montpellier 4-0 on Friday.
PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino looks at the field during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“I feel better,” Pochettino told broadcaster Telefoot before kickoff. “I’m allowed to be here tonight as long as I keep my distance.”
PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino moves during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Mbappe put PSG ahead in the 34th when he collected a pass from Angel Di Maria and lifted the ball over Bertaud. But the goal came with Montpellier midfielder Florent Mollet out of action after limping off with an ankle injury.
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, scores his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Pochettino had been expected to be replaced by assistant coach Jesus Perez, who stood in for him in last Saturday's away win at Angers.
PSG's Neymar reacts during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Imposing Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik could make his Marseille debut after joining on loan from Italian club Napoli.
PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, and PSG players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions Trophy soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, Jan.13, 2021. PSG won 2:1. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, and PSG players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions Trophy soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, Jan.13, 2021. PSG won 2:1. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)
More Images
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, jumps over Montpellier's goalkeeper Jonas Omlin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino made a surprising return to watch Kylian Mbappe snap a four-game scoreless run with two goals as the league leaders crushed 10-man Montpellier 4-0 on Friday.

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino looks at the field during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“I feel better,” Pochettino told broadcaster Telefoot before kickoff. “I’m allowed to be here tonight as long as I keep my distance.”

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino moves during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Mbappe put PSG ahead in the 34th when he collected a pass from Angel Di Maria and lifted the ball over Bertaud. But the goal came with Montpellier midfielder Florent Mollet out of action after limping off with an ankle injury.

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, scores his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Pochettino had been expected to be replaced by assistant coach Jesus Perez, who stood in for him in last Saturday's away win at Angers.

PSG's Neymar reacts during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Imposing Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik could make his Marseille debut after joining on loan from Italian club Napoli.

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, and PSG players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions Trophy soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, Jan.13, 2021. PSG won 2:1. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, and PSG players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions Trophy soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, Jan.13, 2021. PSG won 2:1. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)

In an unexpected sight at Parc des Princes stadium, Pochettino returned to coach PSG just one week after testing positive for the coronavirus.

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, jumps over Montpellier's goalkeeper Jonas Omlin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, jumps over Montpellier's goalkeeper Jonas Omlin during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“I feel better,” Pochettino told broadcaster Telefoot before kickoff. “I’m allowed to be here tonight as long as I keep my distance.”

Forwards Neymar and Mauro Icardi also netted for defending champion PSG.

The game became one-sided after Montpellier goalkeeper Jonas Omlin was sent off in the 19th minute for clattering into Mbappe just outside the penalty area. Omlin was replaced by Dimitry Bertaud.

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino looks at the field during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino looks at the field during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Mbappe put PSG ahead in the 34th when he collected a pass from Angel Di Maria and lifted the ball over Bertaud. But the goal came with Montpellier midfielder Florent Mollet out of action after limping off with an ankle injury.

A flurry of action saw Mbappe set up Neymar in the 59th, before Icardi turned in right back Alessandro Florenzi's cross one minute later. Icardi then unselfishly set up Mbappe for an easy goal in the 62nd.

Mbappe's brace took him to the top of the scoring charts with 14, two more than Reims striker Boulaye Dia.

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino moves during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino moves during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Pochettino had been expected to be replaced by assistant coach Jesus Perez, who stood in for him in last Saturday's away win at Angers.

Unlike in previous PSG matches, however, Pochettino wore a face mask throughout.

In Saturday's games, fourth-place Monaco will look to make it six games unbeaten when it hosts sixth-place Marseille.

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, scores his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, scores his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Imposing Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik could make his Marseille debut after joining on loan from Italian club Napoli.

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PSG's Neymar reacts during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

PSG's Neymar reacts during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Friday, Jan.22, 2021. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

 PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, and PSG players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions Trophy soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, Jan.13, 2021. PSG won 2:1. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)

PSG's head coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, and PSG players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions Trophy soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, Jan.13, 2021. PSG won 2:1. (AP PhotoChristophe Ena)