For his first match as world champion, Lionel Messi offered some nice gestures and a goal to Paris Saint-Germain to beat Angers (2-0) and consolidate their lead at the top of Ligue 1. PSG are thus officially champions. winter of the French championship.
Beaten at his runner-up Lens the previous day (3-1), Galthié’s men resumed easily thanks in particular to his Argentine genius, the Sang et Or having been held in check in Strasbourg (2-2). Leo Messi is notably at the start of the goal of Hugo Ekitike (5th), and at the conclusion of a long sequence in front of the Angevin surface, served by Nordi Mukiele (71st), a goal at the limit of offside validated by the video referee.
Dreary game
Despite these few flashes of the sevenfold Ballon d’Or, returning after having long celebrated the third star of the “Albiceleste”, the match remained bleak. But that’s enough to crown the unofficial crown of winter champion, in this period of galette des rois.
Certain of finishing in the lead after the first legs, the reigning French champion was not very convincing, with Neymar, back from suspension, but without Kylian Mbappé, on recovery after having postponed his vacation a little by compared to those of the “Pulga”. The SCO is assured of remaining in last place at the halfway point, four lengths from Strasbourg (19th).
Messi’s feint
Angers were not ridiculous, but left beaten for the tenth time in a row in Ligue 1, an ordeal dimly lit by the penalty shootout victory in Strasbourg (0-0, 5-4 tab) in the Coupe de France. Points in Paris were probably not on the running board, but the men of Abdelaziz Bouhazama, the new coach since November, have three crucial matches for the maintenance operation against Clermont then two direct competitors, Brest and Ajaccio.
Points, PSG can score 50 if they win in Rennes for the last day of the first legs, a breathtaking pace. Yet Christophe Galtier’s team only shone in sequences on Wednesday, carried by Messi. The first goal comes from one of his inspirations, a fake body and a clever shift for Nordi Mukiele, whose cross is converted into a goal by Hugo Ekitike (5th).
The helpless SCO
In addition to the knockout goal, Messi also landed a free kick on the head of Sergio Ramos, blocked by Paul Bernardoni (25th), then served in Juan Bernat space, but Ekitike stumbled on the goalkeeper (59th). Another class gesture from Messi would have deserved a better fate, a ladle for Neymar who scored from the volley, but the goal was disallowed for a slight offside from the Brazilian (82nd).
Powerless despite its good will, the SCO especially saw the Pulga play. Angers were only really dangerous once, a shot too high from Abdallah Sima, yet well placed (61st). Immediately after, the Senegalese was replaced by Sofiane Boufal, another Qatar hero, for his first match since Morocco’s fourth place at the World Cup (62nd).
Another interesting entry, but for the future, that of the very promising Warren Zaire-Emery, only 16 years old, 19 younger than Messi, even if the “Titi”, acclaimed by the Parc des Princes, hoped to start in the absence by Marco Verratti, package, as he had been in the Coupe de France in Châteauroux (3-1).
But the most beautiful ovations were reserved for the Argentine idol. PSG did not celebrate the title of world champion of its number 30, obtained against France, but the Park reserved its song for him: “Meeessi! Meeessi!” when taking a final free kick. The genius is back.