Lionel Messi scored his first goal in Ligue 1 and helped lead Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to win over Nantes with a score of 3-1 at the Parc des Princes, Saturday (20/11).
PSG were already leading 1-0 through Kylian Mbappe when the game had only been running for two minutes. Mbappe’s goal began with Leandro Paredes’ hard shot from outside the penalty box which was changed direction by Mbappe.
Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont was fooled into not being able to reach the ball.
After scoring a quick goal, PSG was unable to record the next goals. The opportunities that Lionel Messi and his friends got could not produce a second goal.
PSG almost added a goal in the 17th minute if Lionel Messi’s right-footed shot was not blocked by Lafont. Likewise, Mbappe’s shot in the 22nd minute was also blocked by the 22-year-old goalkeeper.
PSG’s attack continued in the 29th minute, this time through a close-range shot from Neymar. Lafont again performed brilliantly by holding back the Brazilian striker’s chances. Messi’s left foot kick in the 38th minute was again countered by him.
Nantes’ shot on goal was only successful in the first half of injury time. Ludovic Blas tried his luck with a long-range effort, but Keylor Navas swiftly saved the net. The 1-0 score lasted until the break.
PSG then got disastrous because Keylor Navas was hit by a direct red card in the 65th minute. Navas came out of the penalty box and lunged for Ludovic Blas who counterattacked.
This made Mauricio Pochettino decide to pull out Neymar in order to lose Sergio Rico.
Nantes can finally take advantage of the player’s advantage. Nantes could equalize in the 77th minute through Randal Kolo Muani.
Muani took advantage of a wild ball after his header could be blocked by Sergio Rico. With his back to the goal, Muani made a heel kick.
Rico had time to stem the ball out of the goal but the referee declared the goal was valid because the ball had crossed the goal line.
Under pressure, PSG could score a second goal five minutes later. Messi’s breakthrough bait which was blocked by Dennis Appiah actually made the ball go into the goal.
In the 85th minute, Messi gets a free kick but the ball is still flying over the goal.
Messi’s efforts to score a goal finally paid off in the 87th minute. Receiving the ball from Mbappe, Messi fired a directional shot from outside the penalty box which was lodged in the corner of the goal. The score 3-1 for PSG lasted until the end of the match.
This result makes PSG increasingly firmly at the top of the Ligue 1 standings with 37 points. While Nantes is in 11th place with 18 points.
