AFCON 2025
By Chima Azu
Lionel Messi had a hand in all three goals that PSG scored by bagging a hattrick of assist in a 3:1 win to 10 men Saint-Ettiene.
The home side got the lead in the 23rd minute from a rare opportunity after Mbappe had squandered two clear cut chances earlier in the game. But right at the end of the first half, PSG had a free-kick and Messi gave a perfect cross to Marquinhos who headed home for the equaliser.
After a keenly contested second half, PSG took the lead when Messi gave his Argentine teammate a through pass which he took well with a well curled shot into the right hand side of the post. In the 91st minute Messi came up with his last assist of the game with a fine cross from the right into the box for Marquinhos to nod into the far corner to make it 3:1 and secured all three points for the league leaders.
However, Sergio Ramos made his long awaited debut for PSG after being unable to play through injury since he signed for the french Champions. The Spaniard went straight into the starting lineup and played for the full duration of the match unscathed.
The game ended on a sad note for PSG when Neymar Jr went out injured after a sprained ankle and had to leave the field in the 88th minute, the replay of the tackle looked really terrible and the Brazilian could be out for a while.
