Lionel Messi saves PSG after Neymar stretchered off and sporting director took over mid-game
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 4-3 LILLE: Lionel Messi’s 95th-minute free-kick saves PSG after they conspired to throw away the two-goal lead and Neymar lies injured on a stretcher
Lionel Messi scored an injury-time free-kick to spare Paris Saint-Germain the blush in a crazy game against Lille.
In a remarkable performance at the Parc des Princes, the star-studded PSG side appeared on course for a fourth straight defeat after conspiring to throw away a 2-0 lead. But Kylian Mbappe equalized late before Messi rolled a free-kick over the inside of the post to end a three-game losing streak.
The remarkable turnaround came after a bizarre performance by sporting director Luis Campos, who left his seat in the stands to come to the sidelines alongside manager Christophe Galtier, where he began shouting at the players and match officials in breathtaking scenes. And Les Parisiens’ comeback came without Neymar, who was on the stretcher early in the second half.
Goals from Mbappe and Neymar seemed to have the home side under control after 17 minutes but their recent faltering form, which saw them lose to Marseille, Monaco and Bayern Munich, came back to bite.
Bafode Diakite headed in at the break to make it 2-1 before things got worse. Neymar had to be carried off in the 51st minute after twisting his right ankle in a tackle.
The Brazilian looked genuinely distressed and after attempting to hobble to the touchline, he used the offered stretcher and burst into tears as he was carried away.
Jonathan David scored from the penalty spot after Marco Veratti was controversially judged to have pulled a shirt on a corner before Lille made it 3-2 when Jonathan Bamba rushed for a ball over the defense and hit Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post.
The three-goal turnaround surprised Parc des Princes before superstar duo Mbappe and Messi trumped.
With PSG seemingly running out of ideas, Mbappe slid in Juan Bernat’s low cross at the near post for his second goal in the 87th minute. Then Messi produced a textbook free-kick in the 95th minute and rolled the ball past Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
At that moment, amid jubilant scenes in the stands and on the pitch – Galtier ran onto the field to hug his players – Campos responded by shouting with delight and shaking his fist in the face of the Ligue 1 representative, who was in stood nearby.
It was a stunning ending to a truly unforgettable game that had plenty of drama in Paris.
All of this came after a typical week on the soap opera PSG.
There was intrigue at kick-off when it emerged that Presnel Kimpembe was wearing the captain’s armband in Marquinhos’ absence – and not Mbappe, who had been appointed vice-captain by Galtier last month.
Meanwhile, Neymar was criticized earlier in the week for being “unprofessional” after attending the European Poker Tour in Paris and leaving for McDonald’s following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
Ahead of the game on French television, Thierry Henry asked how Neymar’s footage at McDonald’s became public knowledge and joked: “With friends like that, who needs enemies!”
Neymar put that incident behind him with PSG’s second goal but the tears and serious-looking injury already make him a huge doubt for the all-important second leg against Bayern on March 8.
“I hope Neymar’s injury isn’t serious, I hope he comes back soon – we need him with us,” Mbappe explained. He also denied that his mid-week comments, which were seen as a dig at his Brazilian team-mate, were aimed at PSG No.10 “I never attacked Neymar or pointed the finger at him.”