Mueez Ajao
– Messi has still not contributed a goal or assist in all competitions since joining PSG on a free transfer from Barcelona this summer.
– Lionel Messi was substituted late on during his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain before Mauro Icardi grabbed a last-gasp goal to secure a 2-1 win over Lyon.
– With the score at 1-1, Messi was brought off after 74 minutes and looked on in shock as he passed PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino.
– However, PSG secured all three points in stoppage-time through substitute Icardi’s header.
– Neymar’s penalty had cancelled out Lucas Paqueta’s opener in the second half.
– Lyon, who made a stuttering start to the season, are ninth with eight points while Marseille moved up to second on 13 points from five games after a convincing 2-0 victory against Rennes.
– Coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for an attacking lineup with Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria in front of a two-man midfield featuring Idrissa Gueye and Ander Herrera while Gianluigi Donnarumma started his second Ligue 1 game.
– Messi looked more lively than against Club Brugge on Wednesday, forcing Anthony Lopes to a great save with a low crossed shot on 32 minutes after a clever backheel from Neymar.
– Four minutes later, his 25-metre curled free kick crashed onto the bar.
– Lyon went ahead nine minutes into the second half when Karl Toko Ekambi played Paqueta through for the Brazilian to beat Donnarumma at the end of a late run into the area.
– It spurred PSG back into action and Neymar, who was closer to his best than in any other game this season, was brought down in the box.
– The Brazil forward coolly slotted the ball past Lopes to convert the resulting penalty in the 66th minute.
– Messi looked puzzled when he was replaced with fullback Achraf Hakimi, whose runs down the right flank were sorely missed by PSG.
