Lionel Messi scores in 1st game after World Cup as PSG win
PARIS — Lionel Messi scored in his first game since leading Argentina to the World Cup title as French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain beat Angers 2-0 on Wednesday.
Almost four weeks after the final against France in Qatar, Messi only needed five minutes to make an impression. He circled cleanly near the penalty area and sent a pass to right-back Nordi Mukiele, whose cross was turned in by 20-year-old striker Hugo Ekitike.
Messi then started the move that led to his 72nd-minute goal, with Ekitike and Mukiele quickly combining to get him through before he headed home. His eighth league goal this season was initially disallowed for offside but later granted following a video review.
It was otherwise a poor overall performance for PSG against a bottom-placed side, but the Paris club took a six-point lead after second-placed Lens drew 2-2 with 19th-placed Strasbourg.
Messi received a warm standing ovation from the Parc des Princes crowd, who chanted his name as he clapped back.
He scored twice against France in a 3-3 draw on 18 December and converted his penalty into a shootout. Messi and his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat trick in the final, are the first to win the next men’s Ballon d’Or.
With Mbappe rested, Messi started in attack with Neymar and Ekitike. But PSG fell asleep for portions of the game and Angers had two good chances before Messi’s goal.
PSG players warmed up wearing T-shirts with Pelé’s face. The Brazilian great, who won a record three World Cups, died at the end of December at the age of 82.
In Strasbourg, striker Alexis Claude-Maurice put Lens ahead in the 11th minute but five minutes later Strasbourg were leading after goals from midfielder Sanjin Prcic and veteran striker Kevin Gameiro. Belgian striker Lois Openda equalized for Lens.
Elsewhere, third-placed Marseille moved within two points of Lens after their 2-0 win at Troyes.
Centre-back Chancel Mbemba gave Marseille the lead in the 10th minute after French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi headed in from a cross. Guendouzi’s French teammate Jordan Veretout made it 2-0 just after Cengiz Under’s pass was broken.
Fourth-placed Rennes fell five points behind Marseille after losing 2-1 at Clermont, who won thanks to a goal five minutes into added time from midfielder Johan Gastien. Rennes had two players sent off late.
Rennes are level on points with fifth-placed Monaco, who needed a stoppage-time equalizer from top scorer Wissam Ben Yedder to draw 2-2 at sixth-placed Lorient. Nigeria striker Terem Moffi netted his 11th goal for Lorient, putting him level with PSG’s Neymar and two behind leaders Mbappe.
OTHER MATCHES
Lyon manager Laurent Blanc described Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare as “more than a close friend” ahead of the game. Their teams drew 0-0, as did Brest and seventh-placed Lille.
Toulouse scored five different times in a 5-0 win at Auxerre.
Reims won 1-0 at Ajaccio to make it 10 league matches unbeaten and Nice beat Montpellier 6-1.
Midfielder Kephren Thuram – the son of former France defender Lilian Thuram – dribbled past several players before setting up winger Nicolas Pepe in 15th. Thuram doubled Nice’s lead in the 34th minute with a powerful strike.
Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey netted a second goal for Pepe – who is on loan from Arsenal – in the 56th minute. Striker Andy Delort added another for Nice before midfielder Teji Savanier netted one for the visitors with a fine free-kick.
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Ross Barkley then scored twice within two minutes to make it 6-1.
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