Lionel Messi makes his long awaited return to PSG after victory at the 2022 World Cup as the French giants host basement-dwellers Angers at Parc des ...
Interestingly, however, Angers are thought to be a good bet to score themselves, as the PSG defensive unit struggles with injuries. He was not included in the matchday squad and will be given time to recover ahead of a match of much higher importance on Sunday against Stade Rennes. Nordi Mukiele down the right flank gets free vertically, and he delivers a low cross right to the feet of Hugo Ekitike. PSG hardly had a sniff of the attacking third, and in one of their first forays into the penalty area, they profit. Messi and Neymar stand over it, and after the official sorts out a mess in the scrum, it's Neymar who takes... Bernardoni is up to the task, going full stretch up and to his left to get his fingertips on the ball. The effort is just the fifth shot for PSG in the match, and there are some whistles from the PSG fans as they want to see more from their star-studded side. Neymar's free-kick delivery was sensational, right onto the head of Sergio Ramos, but the Spaniard's effort is right at the Angers goalkeeper, and he makes a wonderful reactionary save at point-blank range. 35th min: Lionel Messi is hacked to the ground by Batista Mendy, and it earns a dangerous free-kick from about 23 yards out. VAR has a look, and while Mukiele is onside on the initial ball, Messi is clearly off by just a hair (er, knee) on the return ball. Messi loops one vertically to Neymar breaking the defensive line, and the Brazilian produces a stunning bit of skill to turn 360 degrees and rifle it into the net on the volley. A wonderful buildup sees Nordi Mukiele played in by Messi, and then the Argentine gets the ball back on a wonderful one-two to get free.
Lionel Messi celebrated his return to competition after the World Cup by scoring a second-half goal as Paris St Germain extended their Ligue 1 lead to six ...
Scoring is good for my confidence, I have to continue like this," said Ekitike. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story Mukiele was again involved after the break as he played Messi through for the Argentine forward to find the back of the net with a right-foot effort from close range.
Ligue 1 leaders PSG have beaten last-placed Angers 2-0, while Patrick Kisnorbo's Troyes lost by the same scoreline at home to title-chasing Marseille.
[12 Jan 2023](//www.ftbl.com.au/news/get-it-done-kuol-immediately-into-hearts-first-team-589673) [12 Jan 2023](//www.ftbl.com.au/news/psg-win-kisnorbo-has-first-ligue-1-loss-589679) His eighth league goal this season was initially disallowed for offside but then awarded following a video review. Nearly four weeks after the final against France in Qatar, Messi needed only five minutes to make an impact. I am still new here and we are getting there little by little. "Marseille is a great team that plays good football.
Lionel Messi made a triumphant return in Paris Saint-Germain's win against Angers, Marseille beat Troyes to close the gap on Lens and Nice hit Montpellier ...
But Lorient were unable to hold on and Ben Yedder headed in from close range (90'), to claim his side a point. But Strasbourg turned the game on its head with quickfire goals from Sanjin Prcic (13') and Kevin Gameiro (16'). Arsenal loanee Pépé added another (56') and Andy Delort fired Nice's fourth 15-minutes from time. Franck Haise's men took the lead when Alexis Claude-Maurice scored for the second-straight league game (11'). "It was not easy to break down Strasbourg but we created many opportunities," explained Lens coach Franck Haise. Messi finished off Angers 18-minutes from time when he fired low past Paul Bernardoni to extend PSG's lead at the top to six points.
Lionel Messi celebrated his return to Paris Saint-Germain with a goal in his first game back since lifting the World Cup.
[lost in the league ](http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/02/football/psg-lens-ligue-1-football-spt-intl/index.html)for the first time this season last week, 3-1 away to Lens. [Pelé](http://www.cnn.com/2022/12/29/football/brazil-pele-soccer-died-intl-latam-spt/index.html) before the match, joining his teammates in wearing a t-shirt with the Brazilian’s face on it during the warmup. [Lionel Messi](http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/football/lionel-messi-psg-return-world-cup-ronaldo-spt-intl/index.html) celebrated his return to Paris Saint-Germain with a goal in his first game back since lifting the [World Cup](https://cnn.com/2022/12/18/football/argentina-france-world-cup-final-qatar-2022-spt-intl/index.html). The 20-year-old forward has impressed when given the chance this season and opened the scoring with a sweeping finish in the first half. [greatest finals ever](https://cnn.com/2022/12/19/football/argentina-france-best-world-cup-final-spt-intl/index.html). But the forward didn’t look to be suffering any hangover as he returned to action with a goal from close range in PSG’s 2-0 win against Angers on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi was crucial in the build-up for the first goal and scored the second as PSG beat Angers to go six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
VAR, though, overturned the ruling, and Messi was awarded a goal on his return to club football after his heroics at Qatar 2022. Abdallah Sima had the best, blasting over from five yards out. PSG wasted little time taking the lead, carving through Angers with relative ease just five minutes in.
Lionel Messi helped Paris Saint-Germain get back to winning ways in Ligue 1 in his first game since winning the World Cup, scoring in a 2-0 victory against ...
Messi had a nervous wait to see if he had doubled the lead in the 72nd minute after he ran onto a Mukiele pass to roll the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net, with a VAR review eventually overruling the initial decision of offside, much to the Argentine's delight and PSG's relief. Angers started the second half well as PSG struggled to put the game to bed, and Abdallah Dipo Sima should have done better when in acres of space on the right of the hosts' penalty area on the hour, but he blazed his shot over the bar. Hugo Ekitike put PSG ahead inside five minutes at Parc des Princes as the 20-year-old continued his recent form in front of goal, before Messi clinched the points with just under 20 minutes to go with a typically stylish finish as the defending champions extended their lead at the top of the league to six points.
Lionel Messi celebrated his return to domestic competition after the World Cup by scoring a second-half goal as Paris Saint-Germain extended their Ligue 1 ...
In Italy, Milan crashed out of the Coppa Italia after a 1-0 home defeat to Torino. Vinícius Júnior could have won it for Real Madrid in extra time but his close-range shot was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili. The two teams finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.
Former Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo has suffered his first defeat in Ligue 1 since taking over at...
Nearly four weeks after the final against France in Qatar, Messi needed only five minutes to make an impact. I am still new here and we are getting there little by little. "Marseille is a great team that plays good football.