Messi cleans up to rescue stumbling PSG against Toulouse
Under pressure at the top of the table, PSG found themselves trailing visitors Toulouse, following Branco van den Boomen’s well-placed free-kick midway through the first half. The Dutch midfielder squeezed the ball beyond the PSG wall, leaving goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded, giving the side from France’s Occitanie region the unlikeliest of leads. One momentarily became two for Toulouse, with Zakaria Aboukhlal nodding home at the back post, only for the assistant referee’s flag to rule the goal out.
A lucky reprieve for the reigning champions, the disallowed goal appeared to spark PSG into life, with one of their superstars netting a wondergoal to draw things level. Taking aim from outside the box, Achraf Hakimi’s curling strike sailed beyond goalkeeper Maxime Dupé’s outstretched arm, sending a noisy Parc des Princes into raptures. A classy finish from the Moroccan international, who took his tally for the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season to an impressive four goals.
Below par in the first period, it didn’t take long for PSG to demonstrate why they’re chasing a record 11th Ligue 1 title. Continuing to impress week in and week out despite his age, Messi’s tantalising shot from outside the penalty area whistled past Dupé, while bringing the whole of the Parc des Princes to its feet. A trademark Messi goal, the Argentine international danced onto a stray ball just outside the box, before curling it into the far left-hand corner.
Messi would come close to an almost identical goal before FT, this time the 35-year-old weaved his way through the Toulouse backline, before flashing a shot over the crossbar. Nonetheless, it was another night the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner stole the headlines, as he helped to extend PSG’s lead at the top of Ligue 1 ahead of Olympique de Marseille’s clash with Nice tomorrow.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)