Lionel Messi marked his triumphant return to the pitch following the World Cup with a elegant second-half purpose, serving to Paris St. Germain to increase their Ligue 1 result in six factors with a snug 2-0 victory over Angers on Wednesday.
Messi, who gained the World Cup with Argentina, obtained a heat welcome from the Parc des Princes crowd and netted from shut vary within the 72nd minute so as to add to Hugo Ekitike’s first-half opener, placing PSG on 47 factors from 18 video games.
RC Lens stayed second however dropped two factors in a 2-2 draw at struggling Racing Strasbourg with all of the targets coming earlier than the break.
Third-placed Olympique de Marseille are actually two factors adrift of Lens on 39 factors after a 2-0 win over Troyes.
“It was the game we needed, with three points in the end. Scoring is good for my confidence, I have to continue like this,” mentioned Ekitike.
“We’re happy because it helps us put the Lens game behind us.”
PSG suffered their first defeat in all competitions this season after they have been crushed 3-1 at Lens within the earlier spherical of matches, however they confirmed extra poise on Wednesday.
Ekitike, who’s getting taking part in time whereas Kylian Mbappe is being rested after making a fast comeback from the World Cup, made probably the most of one other look when he latched onto a cross from Nordi Mukiele to place the hosts forward.
Mukiele was once more concerned after the break as he performed Messi via for the Argentine ahead to seek out the again of the web with a right-foot effort from shut vary.
Messi was flagged offside however the purpose was finally allowed following a VAR evaluate.
In Strasbourg, Lens fell 2-1 behind after Alexis Claude-Maurice’s Eleventh-minute opener was canceled out by Sanjin Prcic and Kevin Gameiro within the thirteenth and sixteenth minutes in a busy begin to the sport.
Lois Openda equalized within the thirty third with a strong header however Lens have been unable so as to add a 3rd regardless of dominating, as Strasbourg keeper Matz Sels made a number of key saves after the break.
Marseille are actually on Lens’ tail after Chancel Mbemba and Jordan Veretout’s targets earned all of them three factors.
Elsewhere, Nice crushed visiting Montpellier 6-1 and Olympique Lyonnais’s poor season continued with a 0-0 draw at Nantes.
