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Lionel Messi scored on his return to club soccer after his FIFA 2022 World Cup win with Argentina as Paris Saint-Germain ran out 2-0 winners over Angers SCO in Ligue 1 on Wednesday. Messi and Hugo Ekitike got the goals as top beat bottom in Le Championnat, but it was far from a classic at Parc des Princes as the hosts laboured to victory.
Despite boasting Messi and Neymar from kick-off, Ekitike’s effort after just five minutes looked like it would be the extent of the scoring until VAR intervened. Nordi Mukiele provided both assists and eventually saw his second awarded after Messi completed a cute passing move 18 minutes from time.
“Everybody knows what Leo is capable of,” said Fabian Ruiz post-game. “He scored and we are all very happy for him. We are also happy that he is a world champion — he deserved it. Now we must make the most of him. On the field, it is a pleasure to play with him each day and to see him up close. I think the whole team and the fans are all happy for him.”
Until the South American put the game beyond doubt, there was plenty to worry Christophe Galtier with Abdallah Sima wasting a glorious chance for Angers at 1-0 and PSG creating next to nothing for much of the encounter. Kylian Mbappe was missing as he returns to training after some deserved rest while Achraf Hakimi was suspended and Marco Verratti was nursing an injury.
Those three absences and some largely disinterested displays contributed towards the growing feeling of concern in the capital that Les Parisiens are well off their expected level one month out from the return of the UEFA Champions League. Neymar, in particular, was a ghostly presence and only offered fleeting reminders that he was even on the field while Messi himself was quiet until he scored.
Ultimately, it was left to the Argentine to provide some game-winning magic as he finished beyond a resolute Paul Bernardoni to put the game beyond…
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