Mueez Ajao
– Lionel Messi scored a stellar goal as Paris Saint-Germain returned to winning ways, but 3-1 victory over Montpellier came at a cost as star Kylian Mbappe limped off in the first half on Wednesday at the Stade de la Mosson.
– Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring for the visitors in the 55th minute and Messi double the lead later in the second half to help PSG earn a much-needed win after a sub-par run of results had seen their lead at the top of Ligue 1 shrink since play resumed following the World Cup.
– However, the win was marred by an apparent thigh injury to Mbappe, who left the pitch the 21st minute shortly after missing a penalty.
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– PSG were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute via video replay when central defender Christopher Jullien was adjudged to have pulled back Sergio Ramos.
– The France forward, though, had his spot kick parried away by Benjamin Lecomte in the eighth minute, but had to take it again and the Montpellier keeper again denied him.
– Mbappe then limped off the pitch holding the back of his left thigh.
– Arnaud Nordin pulled a goal back for Montpellier shortly before full-time, but PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery added their third as the defending Ligue 1 champions picked up an important three points.
– Ligue 1 leaders PSG take on Bayern Munich in their Champions League round of 16 first leg in two weeks.
– Marseille moved up to second place behind PSG after claiming a 2-0 victory at Nantes to leapfrog RC Lens, who dropped their first points at home in a 1-0 defeat to Nice.
🥇 @PSG_English are 5️⃣ points clear at the top of #Ligue1UberEats!
And a wild Matchweek 21 comes to an end! pic.twitter.com/MTfCTpvsVV
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 1, 2023
