Paris Saint-Germain 4-3 Lille: Lionel Messi late stunner rescues hosts but Neymar stretchered off with injury
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Updated 19/02/2023 at 14:40 GMT
He does it again. Lionel Messi had been relatively quiet during Paris Saint-Germain's drama-filled encounter with Lille, but cometh the hour cometh the man, as the Argentina World Cup winner powered a stoppage-time free kick home to give his side a vital three points. Neymar, however, now faces time on the sidelines after being stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
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An injury-time free kick from Lionel Messi saw PSG beat Lille 4-3 in a remarkable Ligue 1 game.
Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Neymar put the hosts in front, but a first-half header from Bafode Diakite, a Jonathan David penalty and a fine finish from Jonathan Bamba looked like the visitors would complete a sensational comeback at the Parc des Princes.
But Mbappe snatched a late equaliser before Messi scored a terrific free kick in injury-time to spark pandemonium in the stands.
PSG go eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1 having played an extra game, with Marseille in second. Lille, meanwhile, remain in fifth - a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying spot - on 41 points.
PSG took the lead through a fine solo goal from Mbappe in the 11th minute. The 2018 World Cup winner nutmegged defender Tiago Djalo before slotting the ball past Lucas Chevalier into the net for his 26th goal of the season in all competitions.
Six minutes later and PSG extended their lead through Neymar. Vitinha forced Chevalier out of his goal and squared the ball for the Brazilian to slot into the empty net.
Lille had looked threatening in the opening stages of the game, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making two fine saves from Timothy Weah and David, and the visitors pulled a goal back in the 24th minute. Andre Gomes' perfectly lofted ball into the box was turned in by Diakite with a glancing header.
Early in the second half Neymar had to be stretchered off almost in tears with what appeared to be an ankle injury, but matters got worse for PSG moments later.
Lille were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute after Marco Verratti pushed over Djalo inside the box at a corner before David stepped up to convert and pull the visitors level.
The visitors then looked to snatched three points thanks to Bamba. The forward latched onto a long pass from Gomes on the counter-attack and fired his strike beyond Donnarumma.
But in the 86th minute, a fine one-two between substitute Juan Bernat and Mbappe ended with the Frenchman slotting his finish into the bottom corner to seemingly rescue a point for PSG.
But PSG completed their spectacular comeback in injury time as Messi struck his free kick from the edge of the box off the inside of the post.
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The match typified Paris Saint-Germain's state as a team; Great going forward, but cannot defend very well.
Two poor individual errors from Marco Verratti were responsible for two of the goals PSG conceded, before the Ligue 1 champions were bailed out by their star forwards Mbappe and Messi.
If PSG are to stand any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, most likely without Neymar, in their second leg against Bayern Munich on March 8, then they must tighten up defensively.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Kylian Mbappe
The Frenchman's two goals were crucial in spearheading PSG's comeback. The forward's blistering pace and accuracy in front of goal overwhelmed Lille.
PLAYER RATINGS
PSG: Donnarumma (7), Pembele (5), Kimpembe (3), Ramos (5), Mendes (5), Verratti (3), Ruiz (4), Vitinha (4), Neymar (5), Messi (6), Mbappe (8)
Subs: Bernat (6), Ekitike (5), Pereira (N/A), Zaire-Emery (N/A), Soler (N/A)
Lille: Chevalier (6), Diakite (6), Fonte (6), Djalo (6), Andre (5), Andre Gomes (7), Angel Gomes (6), Weah (6), Cabella (6), Bamba (6), David (6)
Subs: Yoro (6), Gudmundsson (5), Baleba (N/A), Virginius (N/A)
KEY MOMENTS
1' - BIG CHANCE FOR LILLE! In the opening few seconds Weah fires a shot on goal and Pembele gets a foot to it which sends the ball heading for the opposite corner of the net, but it comes off Donnarumma's legs!
11' - GOAL!! PSG TAKE THE LEAD! Mbappe puts PSG in front with a stunning solo goal! His 26th goal of the season in all competitions arrives early in the game. Mbappe nutmegs Djalo before slotting the ball through the keeper's legs! A sensational goal from the 2018 World Cup winner!
17' - GOAL!! IT'S A SECOND FOR PSG! PSG's attack are on fire this afternoon! Inside the Lille box Vitinha squares for Neymar who taps the ball into the empty net.
21' - BRILLIANT SAVE FROM DONNARUMMA! Bamba's cross to the near post is met by David who powers a header on goal, but Donnarumma does brilliantly to meet it and parry the ball away!
24' - GOAL!! LILLE ARE BACK IN IT! A Lille corner played short comes out to Andre Gomes. He crosses into the box and it is glanced in by Diakite into the bottom corner!
58' - GOAL! DAVID PULLS LILLE LEVEL!! The forward slots his penalty into the bottom right corner, sending Donnarumma the wrong way!
68' - GOAL FOR LILLE!!! Unbelievable! Lille now lead!! Verratti gives the ball away inside the centre circle. Gomes then lofts a ball over the top for Bamba on the run and he fires a venomous shot into the net! PSG could be heading for FOUR straight defeats!
86' - GOAL!! MBAPPE EQUALISES FOR PSG!! A neat one-two between Mbappe and Bernat ends with the Frenchman slotting the ball into the bottom corner! Lille could not hold on!
90+5' - GOAL!!! LIONEL MESSI SCORES!! Messi has scored the winner! The Argentine's free kick comes off the inside the post beyond Chevalier to complete a remarkable turnaround!
KEY STATS
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