)
The little magician was at it again when PSG needed him the most
Lionel Messi struck five minutes into extra time to steal all three points and spare Paris Saint-Germain’s blushes as he ensured that they won the battle against visiting Lille in Ligue 1.
Messi’s late goal gave PSG a much-needed win in the 4-3 rollercoaster affair with Lille, and the result will still no doubt do a lot to alleviate Christophe Galtier’s stress as it hopefully spells an end to the club’s recent poor form.
PSG looked like they were on course for a win initially, with Neymar inspiring a brilliant first half, but his injury at the start of the second half opened a window for Lille to come back.
Les Dogues almost put their hosts to shame by taking all three points, but a later equaliser by Kylian Mbappe and an eventual winner by Messi turned the tide a final time for PSG to secure a last-gasp win.
How it happened
We did say in our Ligue 1 preview for this weekend that PSG would need their terrific trio up front to come up with the goods for them against Lille, and that is exactly what happened right from the off, as Neymar assisted Mbappe to put PSG 1-0 up with only 11 minutes on the clock.
The Frenchman found a gap between two Lille defenders and struck a low, clinical effort underneath the goalkeeper to score his 15th league goal of the season.
Neymar soon went from provider to scorer as he profited from a one-two with Vitinha to score into an open goal to make it 2-0 to PSG.
After 20 minutes, PSG were cruising and must have had flashbacks of their 7-1 first-leg drubbing of Lille, but things started to go downhill from there for them as Lille sought to avoid a repeat of their first Ligue 1 encounter.
Lille started by pulling one goal back through Bafodé Diakité, who was on the end of Andre Gomes’ cross, to give them a lifeline going into the break.
The clubs went into the break with PSG holding a 2-1 advantage, but were soon beset by tragedy as Neymar, who had a hand in both opening goals, was stretchered off for what appears to be a serious injury.
)
Following Neymar’s injury, PSG lost their composure and soon lost their lead when Fabian Ruiz was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.
Jonathan David stepped up for Lille and made no mistake, levelling the two sides for the first time in the match.
Lille then took an improbable lead soon after as Jonathan Bamba raced on to Andre Gomes’ through-ball to fire a scorching half-volley past Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal for PSG.
Lille looked like they would be taking away a shock victory from the Parc de Prince, but PSG’s big guns proved their worth with two late goals worth every cent of their bumper contracts.
First Kylian Mbappe made it 3-3 with three minutes of normal time left after he slid brilliantly for a near post finish from Nuno Mendes’ cut-back.
)
Then with five minutes of stoppage time already played and his wife Antonella watching on from the stands, Messi scored a trademark freekick to make it 4-3 and steal all three points for PSG.
PSG win but at what cost?
PSG secured three points to steady the ship and consolidate their lead at the top of Ligue 1, but it came at a potentially heavy cost as they lost both Juan and Neymar to injury during the game against Lille.
With fixtures against Marseille and Bayern Munich in their immediate future, they will be hoping that they can keep everyone fit as well as win games from now on.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)