Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Angers: Lionel Messi scores on return as PSG stroll to comfortable Ligue 1 win
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ByOli Gent
Updated 11/01/2023 at 22:11 GMT
Lionel Messi scored on his return to action for Paris Saint-Germain as the Argentine World Cup winner helped his team to a comfortable three points in their Ligue 1 encounter with Angers at the Parc des Princes. Angers, rock bottom of the table, battled gamely but were unable to break through. PSG's win extended their lead at the top to six points after 18 games.
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Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to six points with a routine 2-0 win over Angers at the Parc des Princes.
Hugo Ekitike's goal on five minutes and a composed finish from the returning, World Cup-winning Lionel Messi were enough to give Paris all three points, in a game where they didn't need to get out of third gear.
Kylian Mbappe was left out of the matchday squad, as Ekitike continued in place of his compatriot in the frontline.
In a low-key affair, the hosts controlled proceedings, and came out firing in the early exchanges.
Neymar and Nordi Mukiele's interplay down the right opened the door for Ekitike to sweep home the opener, and his third goal in as many games.
Sergio Ramos was denied from point-blank range by an excellent Paul Bernardoni save on 24 minutes, and the visiting goalkeeper was called into action once more as Messi's fierce, left-footed drive needed attending to on its way towards the far corner.
A slight miscommunication between Gianluigi Donnarumma and Juan Bernat had home fans momentarily worried, as both PSG players went for a ball played in behind the defence. The Spanish left-back poked the ball beyond his goalkeeper, who showed his frustrations as Bernat cleared the hosts' lines to avert the danger.
After the break, Abdelaziz Bouhazama's side saw more of the ball, and tried harrying their hosts out of possession. Paris, however, began to profit from the increased space opening up in the visiting half, as Neymar, Messi, Vitinha and Fabian were afforded more time on the ball.
Christophe Galtier's champions looked assured in possession as they welcomed Messi back, and the great man finally had his moment on 74 minutes, with Mukiele and Neymar combining once more to send the Argentine one on one with Bernardoni.
He finished with aplomb, but had a nervy two-minute wait as VAR checked the initial offside call. The gods smiled down on the GOAT though, who celebrated his return to club duty with a bang.
An exhibition at times, this was the perfect way for Paris to get back to winning ways after their embarrassment at Lens.
TALKING POINT - MBAPPE WHO?
Mbappe may have been missing today, but it's not as if Paris ever needed him.
In Angers, they faced a vastly inferior side in all aspects, and even without their starboy, Neymar and Messi were having fun with their link-ups, showboating where they could.
Messi got his goal; Neymar seemed frustrated not to notch one of his own, but ultimately, it's a team game.
That could be something that some of those PSG stars need to remind themselves about.
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Paris Saint-Germain's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (CR) runs with the ball next to Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar (CL);
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - NORDI MUKIELE, PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
A thorn in the side of Souleyman Doumbia down the Paris right.
He was instrumental in the set up of both goals, practically camping out in the visiting half as PSG controlled proceedings.
He was solid when required defensively, and never stopped running.
A complete performance with little difficulty.
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Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Hugo Ekitike (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SCO Angers at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on January 11
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
PSG: Donnarumma 6, Mukiele 7, Marquinhos 6, Ramos 6, Bernat 6, Danilo 6, Vitinha 6, Fabian 6, Messi 6, Ekitike 6, Neymar 6. Subs: Bitshiabu 6, Soler 6, Z-Emery 6.
Angers: Bernardoni 7, Bamba 6, Hountondji 6, Blazic 6, Doumbia 6, Mendy 6, Capelle 5, Bentaleb 5, Hunou 5, Abdelli 5, Sima 6. Subs: Salama 6, El Melali 6, Boufal 6, Taibi 6, Thioub 6.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
5': GOAL! Three in three for Hugo Ekitike, as he sweeps home to give Paris an early lead. It's been coming; the hosts have controlled the early exchanges, and after Neymar picked it up in the right half-space and fed Mukiele, Ekitike made his run to the near post, and finished clinically.
24': GOOD SAVE! Messi's delivery is delicious...there's Ramos! Great reflexes from Bernardoni to deny the powerful header.
33': CLOSE! Neymar, in a slightly deeper role, hangs back and slides a lovely outside of the boot pass into the path of Messi down the left flank. PSG drive through the Angers defence, as Fabian slides the Argentine through. Messi fires a fierce shot towards the far corner, but Bernardoni is equal to it.
61': CLOSE! We're still no closer to another goal. Angers are coming forward though, and Sima is free on the right... he's blazed over a glorious chance! What a miss!
73': NO GOAL! Messi is denied a returning goal, as Neymar and Mukiele combine once more. Messi slides beyond Bernardoni, but the flag is up! // GOAL! It has been given, VAR confirms it. Messi's sumptuous finish beyond Bernardoni counts, and it's 2-0.
KEY STAT
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