Messi took matters into his own hands, Mbappé sank. Panoramic AFP
PSG returned to victory in Ligue 1 in Montpellier (1-3) on Wednesday. The tops and flops of this meeting of the 21st day at La Mosson.
TOPS
Messi in boss mode
Neymar’s orphan at kick-off, then Mbappé’s, Lionel Messi clearly took the game on his own after the French international left injured. Available and involved, the Argentinian found himself at the origin and at the conclusion of many actions. One hundred and five balls touched, nine shots… The new world champion was omnipresent and offered his ninth goal of the season in Ligue 1, with a sequence as subtle as it was effective (72e).
Read alsoLigue 1: PSG finds the way to victory in Montpellier … but loses Mbappé
Fabian Ruiz liberé
What if his adventure with PSG had really started this Wednesday? Too discreet since his arrival last summer, Fabian Ruiz achieved his best performance in the Parisian jersey. The 26-year-old stepped up in midfield and delivered a great second half. Very active, and decisive. Author, with opportunism, of the opening of the score which relieved his people (55e), he then turned into a passer on Messi’s goal (72e). An alarm clock to be confirmed.
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Hakimi’s activity
Mbappé’s injury had no effect on his performance. Very close to the Parisian star, Achraf Hakimi delivered a big game in his right lane. Author of several life-saving returns in defense, the Moroccan international chained the climbs which hurt the defense of the MHSC. Directly involved in two of the three Parisian goals. The Var deprived him of a magnificent goal, while his long shot had mystified Lecomte, impassable until then (53e).
FLOPS
Clumsy Mbappé… then injured
PSG trembles. 13 days before the long-awaited reception of Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the capital club suffered a huge blow with the injury exit of Kylian Mbappé. The French international, hit in the left thigh, had to leave his partners after only twenty minutes of play. The premature epilogue of a bad evening for the Parisian number 7, who missed two penalties in quick succession against a Lecomte heroic (8e10e). The countdown is now on for PSG and its star, in the hard at the start of 2023.
Read alsoPSG: dark evening for Mbappé, between missed penalties and … Bayern’s 13-day injury in C1
Germain invisible
Dominated from start to finish, Montpellier waited until the last quarter of an hour to be threatening on the offensive level. Valère Germain had already joined the bench of substitutes. Holder on the front of the Hérault attack, the former Monegasque did not exist in this match. No strikes to report, and only 44% of successful passes. The 32-year-old, author of two small goals this season, was replaced shortly after the hour mark (62e).