Messi returns to PSG lineup but Mbappé grabs spotlight as Ajaccio routed
PARIS — Lionel Messi returned to the Paris Saint-Germain lineup after a brief suspension and Kylian Mbappé grabbed the spotlight with two goals as Ajaccio was routed 5-0 on Saturday.
PSG moved closer to a record 11th French league title by leading second-placed Lens by six points with three games left.
Mbappé’s second-half brace moved him onto a league-leading 26 goals and two ahead of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, whose side plays on Sunday.
World Cup winner Messi missed PSG’s previous game because the club suspended him for traveling to Saudi Arabia for commercial reasons without authorization. He apologized and the suspension was lifted this week.
Messi received a mixed reception. Some fans jeered the superstar, but the absence of PSG’s hardcore “ultra” fans made for a largely subdued atmosphere at Parc des Princes.
The Paris Ultras Collective — who usually stand behind one of the goals — are boycotting matches until further notice amid growing tensions with PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi.
Midfielder Fabien Ruiz and right back Achraf Hakimi put PSG 2-0 up by halftime. Mbappé made it 3-0 in the 47th minute and volleyed in superbly from the edge of the area in the 54th. Central defender Marquinhos hit a deflected shot that led to an own goal.
Hakimi was sent off for the second straight home game when he was red-carded along with Ajaccio midfielder Thomas Mangani following a brief scuffle in the 77th.
PARIS — Lionel Messi returned to the Paris Saint-Germain lineup after a brief suspension and Kylian Mbappé grabbed the spotlight with two goals as Ajaccio was routed 5-0 on Saturday.
PSG moved closer to a record 11th French league title by leading second-placed Lens by six points with three games left.
- Defeat relegated 18th-placed Ajaccio.
Mbappé’s second-half brace moved him onto a league-leading 26 goals and two ahead of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, whose side plays on Sunday.
World Cup winner Messi missed PSG’s previous game because the club suspended him for traveling to Saudi Arabia for commercial reasons without authorization. He apologized and the suspension was lifted this week.
PSG close in on French title as AC Ajaccio go down
[1/2] Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Ajaccio - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi in action REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Messi, who started after a club-imposed suspension for missing training last month, was booed by the fans before and during a one-sided encounter that took PSG to 81 points with three games left, thanks to goals by Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, a double by Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Youssouf's own goal.
Christophe Galtier's side lead second-placed RC Lens, who beat Stade de Reims on Friday 2-1 despite being down to 10 men, by six points. Third-placed Olympique de Marseille, who host bottom side Angers on Sunday, are five points behind Lens.
Ajaccio are 18th on 23 points, 11 points from 16th-placed AJ Auxerre. The last four clubs in the 20-team Ligue 1 will go down at the end of the season.
- Both teams finished with 10 men after Hakimi and Ajaccio's Thomas Mangani were sent off late.
At the Parc des Princes, the crowd jeered when Messi's name was announced in the line-up and the Argentinian was booed when he first touched the ball.
Messi returned to training on Monday after being suspended for making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia and missing a training session as a result.
French media reported that Messi had been suspended for two weeks after making the trip when he was supposed to train with the squad the day after the Ligue 1 leaders' 3-1 defeat to Lorient last month.
Messi apologised to PSG and his team mates last Friday and was left out of the squad for their 3-1 win at second-bottom Troyes two days later.
- He was below par on Saturday as PSG bulldozed past Ajaccio.
Ruiz opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a whipped shot, 10 minutes before Hakimi doubled the tally by poking home the ball from Mbappe's deflected shot.