With just 15 seconds on the clock, Mbappe fired the game’s first shot narrowly over the crossbar following Anton Kryvotsyuk’s lax pass.
Azerbaijan soon settled and looked far more secure after surviving that scare, although Les Bleus still controlled possession and saw Malo Gusto test Shakhruddin Magomedaliyev after linking up nicely with Mbappé.
Dayot Upamecano then failed to get a convincing contact on Michael Olise’s free-kick delivery before Mbappe’s shot was blocked by Behlul Mustafazade.
France stepped up their search for an opener as the 20th minute came and went with shots and crosses being unleashed with greater regularity, but Mustafazade and his fellow men in red continued to stand firm while Olise and Theo Hernandez sent an effort apiece harmlessly off-target.
Adrien Rabiot couldn’t quite guide his improvised attempt towards goal before Mbappe and Ekitike both saw shots routinely held by Magomedaliyev.
Mbappe finally broke the visitors’ defences moments before the break as he worked a way through the crowd to pick out the bottom corner, scoring in a 10th consecutive match for club and country in the process.
Didier Deschamps came close again after the restart, with Kingsley Coman seeing a shot saved and Ekitike hitting the post inside five second-half minutes.
Mbappéewas denied twice in quick succession by Mustafazade shortly before the hour mark, before latching onto a Hernandez ball, but hit the side netting.
Mustafadze got in the way yet again to deny Ekitike and Mbappe, before Magomedaliyev tipped Khephren Thuram’s fizzing first-time strike over the crossbar.
Azerbaijan couldn’t deal with the ensuing corner, though, and Rabiot rose to head home Mbappe’s clipped cross.
Rahil Mammadov came close at the other end, and after Jean-Philippe Mateta came on for his debut, there was concern as Mbappe asked to be brought off late on.
Joy soon returned to the Parc des Princes as Florian Thauvin replaced the talisman for his first national team appearance in 2,313 days and scored a brilliantly taken goal moments later, as France maintained their perfect record in World Cup qualification to go five points ahead in Group D.
While Azerbaijan sit bottom, Aykhan Abbasov can take encouragement from his side’s display and their draw against Ukraine last time out.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (France)
