messi
Football

Paris Saint-Germain moves to the top of Ligue 1, Messi scores the game-winning goal off a pass from Neymar

PSG reclaimed top position in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 win over Lyon, with Lionel Messi scoring the game’s lone goal in the sixth minute.

It’s perplexing that the game only finished 1-0, despite both teams having multiple opportunities to score the other goal. Alexandre Lacazette had the clearest chance for the hosts to equalise, but he missed a wide-open header in the first half that he should have put away.

Lionel Messi and Neymar required only five minutes to combine for Paris Saint-goal Germain’s in a 1-0 win against Lyon in the French league on Sunday, extending PSG’s advantage over second-place Marseille to two points.

Messi began and finished the slick play after exchanging passes with Neymar, curling the ball perfectly beyond goalkeeper Anthony Lopes’ desperate dive for his fourth league goal of the season.

It was Neymar’s eighth league assist of the season, and the former Barcelona colleagues linked up again seconds later as Messi came near.

Neymar was making his 100th league appearance for PSG, in which he has contributed 121 goals (77 goals and 44 assists).

With the World Cup in Qatar coming, the Brazil star appears to be in better shape than he has been in many years, despite arriving from Barcelona for a world record €222 million ($222 million) in 2017.

His connection with Messi is approaching that of their time at Barcelona, when they scored 299 goals between 2013 and 2017.

Lyon became more involved in the game in the first half, with Alexandre Lacazette having a shot saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma but also missing a free header from close range.

PSG pressed early in the second half, and Messi had a shot pushed off the line. PSG’s midfield was strained as Lyon dominated possession, and Marco Verratti walked out midway through the second half with a calf muscle injury.

“It’s a blow,” remarked PSG coach Christophe Galtier. “He was meant to join the (Italian) national squad tonight, but he will return to Paris for examinations.”

PSG responded, as Messi’s low attempt in the 78th produced a brilliant low stop from Lopes, who then made an even better save to punch away Messi’s curling free kick towards the finish. Neymar looked gloomy as he watched from the sideline after being replaced in the 85th minute.

The game unfolded similarly to the one against Brest, in which Messi assisted Neymar for the only and winning goal.

The former Barcelona pair currently have five assists between them in Ligue 1 and appear to have adjusted well in their new club after a period at Barcelona where they shared 299 goals between them from 2013 to 2017.

Messi came near to scoring again several times in the second half, but Anthony Lopes stopped him with a fantastic performance.

His final attempt, a free-kick, was blocked by the bar, and the match ended 1-0 in favour of the French champion.

Kajal S

Kajal S

kajal

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