Desk Report –
In a 4-3 victory over Troyes on Saturday, PSG’s front three all scored, with Lionel Messi leading the way with a goal and an assist. This allowed them to retake the lead in Ligue 1 by five points.
Following second-place Lens’ victory over Toulouse on Friday, the league’s top team reacted by twice coming from behind to defeat Troyes at the Parc des Princes.
43 goals have already been scored this season by the offensive trio of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
Now that PSG has the advantage of finishing first in their Champions League group, coach Christophe Galtier can focus on Wednesday’s game at Juventus.
In Paris, Troyes shocked everyone by scoring the game’s first goal inside just three minutes after Rony Lopes threw the ball back for Mama Balde to slam a beautiful volley past Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG.
Midway through the first half, the home team equalized when Carlos Soler, who had been on the run, caught Neymar’s clipped pass.
The defending champions then took control, forcing Troyes goalkeeper Gauthier Gallon into a remarkable stop to deny a Messi header.
But early in the second half, Guinea-Bissau attacker Balde startled the home fans once more by scoring his second goal with a low shot on the turn.
In just seven Messi-inspired minutes, any fears that PSG would suffer their first loss of the season were immediately dispelled.
With a beautiful strike from 25 yards out that arrowed into the corner, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored his 12th goal of the year.
Just after the hour mark, Messi delivered a pinpoint pass through the Troyes defense for Neymar to beat Gallon and give PSG their first lead of the match.
Mbappe had the opportunity to extend the lead to two goals after Neymar finished off a crazy run through the middle of the field with a spectacular flicked pass, but he shot too close to Gallon.
With 14 minutes remaining, France forward scored by putting a penalty high into the goal.
Late in the game, Ante Palaversa scored for the visiting squad, but PSG prevailed.
In Lens’ 3-0 victory over Toulouse on Friday, Belgian international Lois Openda scored a hat-trick after substituting in the second half.
Prior to their encounter against Nice on Sunday, Lens’ victory put them three points ahead of Lorient in the third position.
