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Muhammad10

Muhammad10

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The French giants will seek a drastic improvement in performance after an underwhelming season saw them overshadowed by rivals AS Monaco. The club is also bound to attract more viewers in the wake of its world-record signing of Neymar from Barcelona.

Follow and discuss PSG's season on this thread.
 
PSG get their own thread

They have arrived!
 
Just another nouveau riche club that should thank its lucky stars a tycoon decided to make them their plaything.

How many times did this team win Ligue 1 before the Qatari takeover ?

Financial Fair Play - what a joke.
 
Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani - A fearsome attacking trio, indeed. PSG have built a very strong team.
 
Paris-St Germain investigated by UEFA over Financial Fair Play

Uefa has opened a formal investigation into Paris St-Germain as part of its "ongoing monitoring" of clubs under Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

European football's governing body introduced FFP 'break-even' rules in 2013, requiring clubs to balance their spending with their revenue.

PSG more than doubled the world record transfer fee when they spent 222m euros (£200m) to sign Neymar last month.

They have signed Kylian Mbappe on loan, and could pay £165.7m for him in 2018.

PSG have been owned by the Gulf state of Qatar, via its Qatar Sports Investments fund, since 2011.

The French club made made a profit of 10m euros (£9.2m) on revenue of 520.9m euros (£389.6m at the time of conversion) in the 2015-16 financial year, according to the most recent figures published by Deloitte.

The six-time French champions have failed to meet FFP rules before - receiving a fine, a spending cap and only being allowed to register 21 players for the Champions League in 2014.

Uefa's FFP regulations were approved in 2010 and the first assessments began the following year.

The 'break-even' element states clubs can spend 30m euros more than they earn over a three-year period.

A Uefa statement said the investigation into PSG would "focus on the compliance of the club with the break-even requirement, particularly in light of its recent transfer activity".

It added: "In the coming months, the investigatory chamber of the Uefa club financial control body will regularly meet in order to carefully evaluate all documentation pertaining to this case.

"Uefa considers financial fair play to be a crucial governance mechanism which aims to ensure the financial sustainability of European club football."

In a statement PSG said: "The club is surprised by this approach given that it has constantly kept Uefa informed about the financial impact of all players' operations carried out this summer, even though it wasn't obliged to do so. The club is very confident in its ability to demonstrate that it will fully comply with Financial Fair Play rules for the fiscal year 2017-2018.

"Deputy CEO Jean-Claude Blanc met with UEFA experts including Andrea Traverso, responsible for Uefa Financial Fair Play, for more than three hours on 23 August at Paris St-Germain's headquarters, where he demonstrated that the operations carried out with FC Barcelona and in progress at that time with AS Monaco followed the rules of Financial Fair Play for the financial year 2017-2018.

"On 31 August, the club's general management again had exchanges with UEFA Financial Fair Play management to provide a more detailed account of how the transaction with AS Monaco would be integrated into the club's accounts for this season, in terms of amortization and payroll, in compliance with French accounting standards.

"Furthermore, as for the summer of 2017, the club has already completed outgoing player transactions that helped improve club results by more than 104 million euros for the 2017/2018 season.

"The club also reminds, if necessary, that it has under contract many high valued players allowing the club to generate very significant capital gains in the next two transfer windows (January and June) of 2018."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41129494

I wonder what sparked this investigation... :13:
 
What a strike force they have. Surely this is the year they get to the semis at the very minimum in the CL.
 
Once upon a time Real Madrid had Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Raul, Beckham, Roberto Carlos and Casillias in the same team, but failed to win. One thing is having the names and another thing is actually winning. It takes many years of hard work to get a team that works. PSG certainly made a good start with the transfers. Now we need to wait and see how long before they get the results.
 
thelandofthebravepeople said:
Once upon a time Real Madrid had Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Raul, Beckham, Roberto Carlos and Casillias in the same team, but failed to win. One thing is having the names and another thing is actually winning. It takes many years of hard work to get a team that works. PSG certainly made a good start with the transfers. Now we need to wait and see how long before they get the results.
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It will be embarrassing for PSG if Monaco outshine them again this season. I have a feeling PSG will fail to live up to expectations in Europe despite their new-look, star-studded line-up.
 
Muhammad10 said:
It will be embarrassing for PSG if Monaco outshine them again this season. I have a feeling PSG will fail to live up to expectations in Europe despite their new-look, star-studded line-up.
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Winning the french league is not really a challenge. Especially if you spend the kind of Money that PSG have. They even bought Monaco best player.

It's success in Europe that matters.
 
thelandofthebravepeople said:
Winning the french league is not really a challenge. Especially if you spend the kind of Money that PSG have. They even bought Monaco best player.

It's success in Europe that matters.
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I think Ligue 1 still may not be a cruise for PSG. Falcao is in red-hot form for Monaco, and Jovetic is a decent signing (not quite Mbappe, though).
 
Muhammad10 said:
I think Ligue 1 still may not be a cruise for PSG. Falcao is in red-hot form for Monaco, and Jovetic is a decent signing (not quite Mbappe, though).
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They did not just lose Mbappe, but Bernado Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Bakayoko. All of them were key players. I doubt they will be able to compete in the long run. I think PSG will win the league by 10+ points. Hope I get it wrong and Monaco surprise again.
 
thelandofthebravepeople said:
They did not just lose Mbappe, but Bernado Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Bakayoko. All of them were key players. I doubt they will be able to compete in the long run. I think PSG will win the league by 10+ points. Hope I get it wrong and Monaco surprise again.
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I know it's unlikely, but I'd love to see PSG flop after their unabashed, wild spending. I also hope they get in trouble as far as FFP is concerned. Admittedly, Monaco's rise has also been due to rich owners, however, PSG are undoubtedly the bigger fish in this regard.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&#55356;&#56807;&#55356;&#56823; Neymar has been directly involved in 9 goals in 5 games for Paris (5 goals, 4 assists). &#55357;&#56490;<br><br>Most in-form player in Europe? ⚽️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash">#UCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/eW3vRxv1v3">pic.twitter.com/eW3vRxv1v3</a></p>— #UCL (@ChampionsLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChampionsLeague/status/907723472096428032">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Pretty impressive start at PSG for Neymar.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PSG fear they could run out of Neymar shirts after selling 120,000 worth £8m in the last month <a href="https://t.co/IOy2FHJHtr">https://t.co/IOy2FHJHtr</a> <a href="https://t.co/9TSRq7lVcA">pic.twitter.com/9TSRq7lVcA</a></p>— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/MailSport/status/909517351045013505">September 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Achraf Hakimi becomes PSG's third summer signing following the arrivals of Georginio Wijnaldum and Danilo Pereira; the French giants are bolstering their squad after missing out on the Ligue 1 title and the Champions League last term; Chelsea had matched PSG's previous bid for the defender
 
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

Pogba has entered the final year of his United contract and talks are ongoing with his representatives over a new deal.

However, the 28-year-old wants to assess all his options before deciding on what is likely to be the last big contract of his career.
 
Lionel Messi said he dreams of winning the Champions League once more after joining Paris St-Germain, adding: "I think we have the team to do it here."

The Argentina captain, 34, won four Champions League titles with Barcelona, the last of which came in 2015.

PSG are still searching for their first title in the competition, having lost to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.

"My goal and my dream is to win the Champions League once more," Messi said as he was unveiled as a PSG player.

Messi left Barcelona - who he joined aged 13 - as they were unable to afford a new deal under La Liga's financial fair play rules.Considered one of the greatest players of all time, he scored a record 672 goals in 778 games for the Catalan giants.

He won the Ballon d'Or a record six times and lifted 35 trophies during his time at the Nou Camp, but said he is excited to "begin this new moment of my life" after a "difficult" departure from Barcelona.

"It was a difficult change after so long a time," he told reporters at the Parc des Princes. "But the moment I arrived here, I felt very happy and I really want to begin the training sessions. I want it to be quick.

"My only will now is to begin the training sessions. I want to work with the staff and team-mates and begin this new moment of my life.

"I have this will to play. I am really impatient. I still want to win, as I did the first moment of my career.

"I feel this club is ready to fight for all the trophies. This is my goal, I want to keep growing and keep winning titles and that is why I came to this club."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58159748
 
It's like a World XI of the greatest players on the planet.

Surely it's time to win the Champions League?
 
Paris Saint-Germain supporters and the watching world will be forced to wait a further week to see Lionel Messi make his debut with his new club, with Mauricio Pochettino not naming him in the club's squad to face Brest.

The Friday evening fixture had been seen as a possible chance for Messi to begin his post-Barcelona career, but that will now not be the case.

Neymar and Leandro Paredes will both miss the match too, with the duo having reached the final of the Copa America and having not had a pre-season.

The information that Messi won't be on the list comes from Le Parisien, but there is also a sense that he will play on the fourth Ligue 1 match of the season, which is set to come against Stade de Reims away from home on August 29.

This would arrive just before the first international break of the campaign, where Messi is set to feature for Argentina in a 2022 World Cup qualifying triple-header against Venezuela, Brazil and Bolivia.

MARCA
 
Paris St-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino says Kylian Mbappe should be in his squad for Sunday's game at Reims, despite speculation about the striker's future.

Real Madrid are bidding to sign Mbappe before the transfer deadline at 23:00 BST on Tuesday, 31 August.

"Kylian Mbappe is working very hard and is preparing for Sunday's game," said Pochettino.

Argentine Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar could also figure against Reims.

Messi, who signed for PSG this summer after his contract with Barcelona expired, has yet to play for the French club.

Neither he nor Neymar has played since the Copa America final, in which Argentina beat Brazil, on 11 July.

The PSG squad has not been announced but Pochettino said Mbappe, Neymar and Messi "will certainly be among those named" and that "we will see if they can play from the start of the match".

Earlier this week, PSG sporting director Leonardo said "Kylian feels like leaving" but that the club's aim was to "extend and keep him".

Pochettino said: "In terms of communications with our president and sporting director, they have made it clear what the club's stance is in this regard."

Asked whether Mbappe had told him that he wanted to leave PSG, Pochettino said: "No."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58369279
 
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have all been included in Paris St-Germain's 22-man squad for their Ligue 1 game at Reims on Sunday.

Messi has not played for the club since sensationally signing for them earlier this month after leaving Barcelona following the expiry of his contract.

The Argentina forward last played on 11 July when he helped his country beat Brazil in the Copa America final.

That game was also Brazil forward Neymar's last outing.

"He is very motivated," said PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino about 34-year-old Messi in his pre-match news conference.

"He's a great professional who is adapting very fast to his new team-mates and to a new context."

France striker Mbappe is also in the squad despite speculation about the 22-year-old's future.

Real Madrid are bidding to sign Mbappe before the transfer deadline at 23:00 BST on Tuesday, 31 August.
 
Lionel Messi made his Paris St-Germain debut as a 66th-minute substitute in a 2-0 win at Reims in Ligue 1.

The Argentine, wearing his new number 30 PSG shirt, received a standing ovation as he replaced his friend Neymar in front of a sell-out crowd.

It was the first club game of his career for a team other than Barcelona.

"He is still far away from his best form but he has been training well and he will be fit in the next two weeks," boss Mauricio Pochettino told Amazon.

"We are waiting for the best from him. I'm very happy that he made his debut. It was very important for him.

"He was good, from his first touches he gave the team peace of mind. It's good for him to start with a win.

"It was good to hear the crowd cheering for him, not just our supporters, it's something Leo has earned."

Kylian Mbappe scored both goals on what could be his final appearance for the club, with Real Madrid keen to sign him before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

Real Madrid have made a 160m euro (£137m) bid to sign the 22-year-old, who has now scored 135 goals in 175 games for PSG.

His first goal was a header from an Angel di Maria cross and for his second he swept home Achraf Hakimi's cross.

"Kylian is our player and you know that in football and in business there is always gossip and rumours," Pochettino said.

"I think our president and our sporting director were very clear and he is still here. I am really happy to have Kylian.

"He is one of the best, one of the most important players in the world today, and for him to be with us is a gift."

But the headlines will be about 34-year-old Messi, who came on moments after that second goal.

Tickets for the game were being resold for about 6,000 euros after Reims sold over 20,000 tickets for the Stade Auguste-Delaune match. Before Messi's signing only about 6,000 had been sold.

Their purchasers may have been disappointed to see Messi only named on the bench - although he got an ovation as he warmed up, with fans chanting his name, and an even bigger one when he came on.

He played some nice passes and was involved in good link-up play, drawing several fouls. However he had few touches in the penalty area and no shooting opportunities.

"He brings serenity to the team. His energy and his optimism trickle down on the rest of the team," said Pochettino.

Messi had missed the first few games for PSG since his free transfer move following his exit from Barcelona. This was his first game since winning the Copa America with Argentina in July.

He joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old and scored a record 672 goals in 778 games for the club.

He has won six Ballons d'Or - also a record - and is considered one of the greatest footballers ever.
 
Was quite a good watch, Messi's first game. Was pretty much controlling the play for the most part. Felt Mbappe was a little desperate to give the ball back to him whenever Messi involved him. Once they all settle down, will be insane. Will be difficult who Messi replaces when he begins starting games. Neymar looked horrible until he was subbed. I haven't really watched him since he left Barca and by those standards he was pretty uninvolved. Hopefully he gets his Barca mojo back. Wonder what will happen to DiMaria who had a good game.
 
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rumors have it that mbappe staying at psg, and this leaves the door for juve to get icardi on loan with option to buy
 
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58493711

Paris St-Germain have hit back at Spanish league chief Javier Tebas after he mocked the French club's spending and the age of their players.

PSG general secretary Victoriano Melero said Tebas should deal with the debt and "mismanagement" in La Liga.

Melero says comments relating to the age of the players - including Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos - are "disrespectful" and "insulting".

Tebas has also repeatedly referred to Qatar-backed PSG as a "state club".

"Time after time, you allow yourself to publicly attack the French League, our clubs, our players while constantly posting insulting and defamatory statements insinuating that we do not conform to the football financial regulations," said Melero.

Tebas recently said PSG were "as dangerous" as the failed European Super League proposal.

Then, referring to the French side's recruitment, he added: "PSG looks like the league of legends given the age of some players."

Messi, 34 and Ramos, 35, both signed two-year deals this summer, joining on free transfers after leaving Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, amid a financial crisis hitting the Spanish game.

Writing to Tebas, Melero said: "It will not have escaped your attention that we comply with Uefa and French regulations. It is worth noting that the French League did not, like your league, wait until recent years to put in place strong financial regulations.

"It is now publicly known that certain Spanish clubs and your league are facing unsustainable levels of debt after gross mis-management, not to mention the way Spanish football has been financed over the past decade - including by the state.

"Now you are also directly and disrespectfully attacking the players. Your remarkable comments on the age of these players not only insults their past and current roles in defining how our great game is played but also the millions of fans around the world who idolise them.

"I am quite surprised you are not focusing more of your attention on the two clubs in your league - Real Madrid and Barcelona - that remain steadfast focused on breaking up your league and European football as a whole.

"We invite you to focus on solving your domestic issues, which you are responsible, and to stop your transparent and repeated diversion attempts."

The French League (LFP) also said Tebas should focus on his league's own problems.

"The LFP asks Mr Javier Tebas to watch his outrageous statements," it said, which were "not worthy of the institution he represents".

"However, the LFP wishes to point out that the financial largesse from which Spanish clubs have benefited for many seasons and which is at the root of the current problems, is neither its responsibility nor that of Paris St Germain," the LFP said in a statement.
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Lionel Messi made his home debut for Paris St-Germain but was replaced in the second half as they went on to beat Lyon to make it six wins from six.

Summer signing Messi hit the angle of post and bar with a free-kick in the first half and forced a save from Anthony Lopes but was below his best.

With the score 1-1, the 34-year-old was replaced by right-back Achraf Hakimi and did not look happy at coming off.

Messi was given a round of applause, but not a standing ovation by his fans.

The forward, who left Barcelona this summer, did not stop but briefly said something to boss Mauricio Pochettino while walking past him to the bench.

Another PSG substitute, Mauro Icardi, scored the injury-time winner in the Ligue 1 game, as he headed in Kylian Mbappe's cross.

Lucas Paqueta swept in Karl Toko Ekambi's cross to give Lyon the lead.

But Neymar equalised with a controversial penalty. He appeared to pull back Malo Gusto in the box but the teenage Lyon defender was penalised instead, with a spot-kick given.

Neymar waited for Lopes to move before slotting in.

PSG manager Pochettino said his decision to substitute Messi was not controversial.

"I think we all know we have great players in this 35-man squad," said the former Tottenham manager. "Only 11 can play, we can't play more. The decisions in the game are made for the good of the team and each player.

"Every coach thinks about that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes players like it and sometimes they don't. At the end of the day, that's why we're here.

"These are decisions that have to be made by the coach. As for his reaction, I asked him how he was, he said he was OK. That was it. That was our exchange."

This was Messi's third game for Paris St-Germain - the third game he has played for a club other than Barcelona.

It took 40 days between joining and making his home debut for fitness reasons and because of the last international break.

His debut came last month as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 win over Reims, with the goals scored before his introduction.

He made his first start on Wednesday in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Club Bruges. Like that game, the much-hyped front three of Mbappe, Neymar and Messi all started on Sunday.

Messi hit the angle of the woodwork in Belgium and again in Paris - and is still waiting for a first goal in PSG colours.

He showed a few moments of link-up play with his old Barcelona team-mate Neymar, but fitting into the rest of the team remains a work in progress.

PSG's next game is Wednesday's Ligue 1 trip to Metz, as they bid to make it seven wins from seven at the top of the league.

BBC
 
Lionel Messi has been left out of the Paris St-Germain squad to face Metz on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

The 34-year-old, who was substituted in Sunday's win over Lyon, had a scan on Tuesday and will be assessed further on Thursday.

PSG, who are top of Ligue 1 after six straight wins, face Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Messi has featured in three games following his summer move from Barcelona.

Before hosting City, Mauricio Pochettino's side face Montpellier on Saturday.

The PSG boss revealed the injury was the reason why he took Messi off after the Argentine appeared unhappy at being replaced.
 
Paris St-Germain's 100% start in Ligue 1 was ended by Rennes as Lionel Messi suffered his first defeat since arriving at the club.

The hosts scored two quick goals either side of half-time through Gatetan Laborde and Flavien Tait.

Mauricio Pochettino's side did not have a single shot on target, despite Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe all starting.

The defeat is PSG's first in Ligue 1 since April, when they were beaten by last season's eventual champions Lille.

Rennes opened the scoring on 44 minutes when Laborde converted from Kamaldeen Sulemana's superb cross.

Tait added a second soon after the restart with a sweeping finish into the bottom corner.

After slicing an effort high over the bar in the first half, Mbappe thought he had pulled a goal back for Pochettino's side midway through the second half, only for it to be ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee (VAR).

The Frenchman is now on a run of five games without a goal in all competitions.

PSG were spared further damage when referee Ruddy Buquet reversed his decision to award Rennes a penalty for Achraf Hakimi's foul on Laborde after checking the pitchside monitor.

Neymar missed a volley in the first half and Idrissa Gueye fired wide of the post, but Lionel Messi came closest for PSG when he hit the crossbar from a free-kick.

Bruno Genesio's Rennes side had only won twice in Ligue 1 heading into Sunday's game, but were clinical in front of goal and scored from two of their four shots on target.

The result leaves PSG top of Ligue 1 on 24 points, six points clear of Lens, while Rennes move up to seventh.
 
Georginio Wijnaldum admits he is "not completely happy" at Paris Saint-Germain and feels concerned over a lack of playing time following his summer move from Liverpool.

The 30-year-old left Anfield on a free transfer earlier this summer after failing to agree a new contract with the Reds but he has struggled to make an impact under Mauricio Pochettino at the Parc des Princes, registering just six starts in all competitions since arriving in the French capital.

Wijnaldum, who captained his country at Euro 2020 earlier this summer amid the absence of Virgil van Dijk, was brought in among a raft of high-profile signings during the last transfer window, with Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi also having joined the Parisians.

Since he was benched for the 4-0 win over Clermont Foot on September 11, Wijnaldum has played just 92 minutes of football in Ligue 1, and ahead of the Netherlands' World Cup Qualifier against Gibraltar on Monday, the midfielder vented his frustration with PSG over his gametime so far this season.

SKY
 
Lionel Messi intends to return to Barcelona at the end of his time at Paris Saint-Germain and wants to help the La Liga club in a technical director role.
 
Paris St-Germain came from behind to beat 10-man Saint-Etienne and move 14 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

After Neymar had an early finish ruled out for offside, Denis Bouanga gave St Etienne a 23rd-minute lead.

Timothee Kolodziejczak was sent-off for a foul on Kylian Mbappe and Marquinhos headed PSG level from the resulting free-kick before half-time.

Angel di Maria curled in with 11 minutes left and Marquinhos added a third for the visitors in added time.

Bouanga's opener, confirmed by VAR after initially being flagged offside, was the 11th time Mauricio Pochettino's PSG have conceded the opening goal in the league in 2021 - their highest tally in a calendar year since 2012.

That was despite a debut for former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, making his first appearance for the club since his move in July.

Lionel Messi, who assisted all three of his side's goals, spurned a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead midway through the second half when he shot wide after following up Neymar's saved attempt.

But he made amends, producing an excellent pass with the outside of his boot to set up Di Maria before crossing for Marquinhos as PSG stretched their advantage after second-placed Nice lost 1-0 to Metz on Saturday.

BBC
 
Get the feeling that Pochettino will exit at the end of the season & take the reins at Man Utd, then being replaced by Zidane at PSG. Feels convenient for all parties, with United only having an interim manager.
 
Paris Saint-Germain are willing to listen to loan offers for Georginio Wijnaldum during the January transfer window.

The former Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder is understood to be open to a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal a potential suitor.

Wijnaldum joined PSG from Anfield on a free transfer last summer, but the 31-year-old has failed to establish himself in Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up.
 
Oh dear...

New manager, same result. Yet another Champions League collapse. Not as bad as 6-1, but this is certainly embarrassing in it's own way.

The mentality was horrendous, they just gave up after the equaliser.
 
PSG win 10th title but angry fans leave early

Paris St-Germain confirmed a record-equalling 10th French title with four games to spare despite being held by 10-man Lens - but fans left early to celebrate outside the stadium without the players.

Lionel Messi's stunning curled strike looked set to seal victory in style for the hosts, who required only one point to clinch the league.

But despite Kevin Danso's dismissal for a second booking, Corentin Jean equalised for a spirited Lens late on.

It is Mauricio Pochettino's first league triumph as a manager.

He said: "We are going through a difficult period with the fans and we hope it will get better. We're in a democracy and we accept all protests. But we have to show respect for this title."

The club's ultras, annoyed by the club's Champions League exit to Real Madrid, started to leave the stadium 15 minutes before the final whistle rather than celebrate with the players.

The ground was empty 10 minutes after full-time and the players did not do a lap of honour afterwards.

"That's something I don't understand," midfielder Marco Verratti said. "I know that they were disappointed about Madrid, but at some point you have to move on."

"The atmosphere is a shame," PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal+ at full-time. "Football is our passion. We'll try to have as much fun as possible. It's a shame that won't be with the supporters but we have to deal with it."

Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi all had chances at close range in the first half as PSG livened up after an underwhelming start.

The hosts were booed off after a goalless first half, however, and Jonathan Clauss was denied by Keylor Navas with an increasingly confident Lens' best chance before the break.

Lens goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca had to be alert when Mbappe was played through by a free-kick, but it was not until Danso's sending off that PSG were able to truly assert themselves.

Even then, it required a moment of brilliance from Messi, who has endured a frustrating first season in Paris with this just his ninth goal of the campaign across all competitions.

But Pochettino's side failed to extend their advantage and were made to pay by a Lens side chasing a European place, as Jean turned in Deiver Machado's cross.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61202312
 
Paris St-Germain are set to sack manager Mauricio Pochettino with Tottenham boss Antonio Conte in the frame to replace him. (Le Parisien via GFFN)
 
Lionel Messi set to stay at PSG but Mauricio Pochettino future is uncertain

Lionel Messi will stay at Paris Saint-Germain for at least one more season as the club prepare to build the team around the Argentine, most likely under a new manager.

Despite being crowned Ligue 1 champions on Saturday with four games to spare, PSG are considering the futures of both head coach Mauricio Pochettino and sporting director Leonardo, Sky Sports News understands.

The club's owners remain unsatisfied with the team's performance in the Champions League, having been knocked out at the last-16 stage by Real Madrid, despite putting together arguably the world's most formidable front three of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Messi completed the trio on a free transfer from Barcelona last summer in the hope of challenging for the Champions League, although he understood it would be difficult to lift that trophy in his first season at the Parc des Princes, Sky Sports News has been told.

He remains committed to this cause but, with Mbappe out of contract at the end of the season and in talks with Real Madrid, while PSG are open to letting Neymar move on, the team is set to be rebuilt again this summer at the beginning of a new cycle, most probably under a new first-team boss, and in a way to get the most from Messi.

It was his excellent goal that earned the final point needed to lift the Ligue 1 title with a 1-1 draw over Lens and, since he joined, the club have sealed nine new lucrative sponsorship deals - the latest one with footwear marketplace Goat being worth €50m over three years.

PSG's owners have no concerns over the few jeers towards Messi from a section of supporters - but the more widespread booing of Pochettino, despite him lifting a third trophy as boss, is increasingly likely to mark the end of his tenure.

Pochettino's position has been uncertain for some time, and a variety of well-placed sources have told Sky Sports News that he has also been unsatisfied and unsettled in France for just as long.

The 50-year-old, who was interviewed by Manchester United before they appointed Erik ten Hag and was also linked with a return to Tottenham last summer, still lived in a hotel in Paris until a few months ago, while his family remains settled in London, and he is said to be frustrated at the limited impact he has been able to have on the club's philosophy, especially its recruitment policy.

That has been led by Leonardo, who admitted at the weekend that "I made mistakes on recruitment and management", and Pochettino is said to have had minimal say on most of last summer's additions except for right-back Achraf Hakimi, while he is understood not have wanted some new additions at all, including free agent Sergio Ramos.

Ramos has had an injury-ravaged season and made just 10 appearances in all competitions, and he is another high-profile player whom PSG are expected to try to negotiate an exit for this summer. Also on the market are said to be their other Argentine players Mauro Icardi and Leandro Paredes, while Angel Di Maria is also out of contract along with Mbappe.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...g-but-mauricio-pochettino-future-is-uncertain
 
PSG are trying to convince former Real Madrid coach Zidane, 49, to replace Mauricio Pochettino as their new boss. (ESPN)
 
Coach Mauricio Pochettino is to leave Paris St-Germain following talks with the club at the end of last week.

PSG are still to make a formal announcement but it is understood the former Tottenham manager, 50, will not serve the final year of his contract.

Zinedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho and Nice coach Christophe Galtier are among those linked with replacing Pochettino.

PSG regained the French title last term but the Argentine failed to lead them beyond the Champions League's last 16.

Although they were beaten by eventual winners Real Madrid, PSG held a 2-0 aggregate advantage with less than half an hour remaining in their second leg.

Pochettino claimed the first trophies of his managerial career with PSG - the 2021 Coupe de France and 2022 Ligue 1 title - but the club's hierarchy felt that was the minimum he should achieve given the squad at his disposal.

The ex-Spurs manager was considered a potential replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United before they appointed interim boss Ralf Rangnick and then Solskjaer's permanent successor Erik ten Hag.


https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61778508
 
Vitinha closing on PSG move

Just 12 months ago Vitinha was coming off the back of a season which saw him struggle to break into Wolves’ starting line-up.

The young Portuguese endured a rather uneventful loan at Molineux, with bosses opting to not make his stay a permanent one. A year on and Vitinha is set to become teammates with Messi, Mbappe and Neymar after PSG decided to pay his £34m release clause.
 
Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been cleared of corruption by a Swiss appeals court.

Ex-Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke was also cleared of the same charge but in a separate case was found guilty of accepting bribes and forging documents.

Valcke, 61, was given an 11-month prison sentence and a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs (£17,000), both suspended.

Swiss prosecutors were appealing a ruling from October 2020 by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court.

The charges related to World Cup TV rights at a time when Valcke was general secretary of football's world governing body.

Al-Khelaifi, also chairman of the European Club Association and a member of Uefa's executive committee, was acquitted of inciting Valcke to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement and the appeals court backed that decision in a written judgement published on Friday.

At a hearing in March, prosecutors claimed Valcke accepted rent-free accommodation in an Italian villa bought by Al-Khelaifi, who is chairman of the BeIN media group, in exchange for TV rights.

Al-Khelaifi, 48, denied he had struck a "corrupt arrangement" with Valcke, testifying: "That is totally wrong. It's a false accusation."

The appeal court agreed Valcke had received "undue advantages" from Al-Khelaifi but decided those advantages did not adversely impact Fifa financially, as it would not have been able to secure a better deal than the one it already had with BeIN.

Al-Khelaifi's Swiss counsel Marc Bonnant said: "Today's verdict is a total vindication. After a relentless six-year campaign by the prosecution - which ignored both the basic facts and the law at every turn - our client has, once again for a second time, been fully and completely cleared.

"The years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated - twice."

Valcke, who held his role at Fifa from 2007-2015 and is currently serving a 10-year ban from football, was similarly acquitted of aggravated dishonest management.

But he was found guilty of forging documents and the multiple taking of bribes over Italian and Greek media rights.

BBC
 
Christophe Galtier has been named Paris St-Germain manager after the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.

Galtier has signed a two-year deal until the summer of 2024.

He left Nice last month after guiding them to fifth in Ligue 1 and a runner-up finish in the French Cup last season.

The 55-year-old, who led Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2021, is PSG's seventh coach since the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011.

"I am delighted to join Paris Saint-Germain, I would like to thank the chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, [football advisor] Luis Campos and the club for their confidence in me," he said.

"I am fully aware of the responsibilities involved to coach this extraordinary team, which is one of the most competitive and spectacular squads in Europe."

Galtier is one of only two managers to stop PSG winning Ligue 1 in the past decade, along with Leonardo Jardim's Monaco in 2016-17.

He resigned after leading Lille to that unexpected title success in May 2021 before spending 12 months at Nice. He previously managed Saint-Etienne.

Pochettino, 50, leaves PSG after just 18 months in charge having guided them to a record-equalling 10th French title last season, his first league success as a manager.

The exit of the former Tottenham boss had been expected for almost a month now - but was only announced shortly before Galtier's appointment was confirmed on Tuesday.

A club statement read: "Paris Saint-Germain confirm that Mauricio Pochettino has ended his role at the club.

"The club would like to thank Mauricio Pochettino and his staff for their work and wish them the best for the future."

BBC
 
The Catalan club, however, are still at loggerheads with Bayern Munich over the signing of Robert Lewandowski and the Poland striker is growing increasingly frustrated by their hardline stance.

Paris Saint-Germain are determined to change tact in their bid to win the Champions League and want to overhaul their huge squad under new coach Christophe Galtier. Mirror Sport has all the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip from around Europe.

Robert Lewandowski is 'shocked' by Bayern Munich's refusal to let him join Barcelona, according to Bild. Lewandowski has made it plain he wants to leave after eight years with Bayern, but the Bundesliga giants refuse to budge on their 50million euro asking price, even though he is 33 and has just one year left on his contract.

The Poland striker feels Bayern are being 'ungrateful' after all he has done for them during his eight years at the Nou Camp. He has cited Bayern's signing of Sadio Mane from Liverpool for a deal worth a potential £35million when he also had a year left on his deal at Anfield and is three years younger than him.

Paris Saint-Germain are open to selling as many as 11 players, according to Le Parisien. Christophe Galtier has succeeded Mauricio Pochettino as boss and PSG want to overhaul their bloated squad in an attempt to finally crack the Champions League.

They also need to attempt - at least - to balance the books after re-signing Kylian Mbappe on a new monster contract worth almost £1millon-a-week. Gini Wijnaldum, Ander Herrera, Idrissa Gueye, Julian Draxler, Mauro Icardi and Leandro Paredes can all go as they are deemed surplus to requirements.

The Hard Tackle website claims Barcelona and Real Madrid have been offered the chance to sign Napoli's Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz.

Ruiz, 26, is out of contract next summer and Napoli are open to cashing in on him now rather than lose him for nothing in a year's time. Barcelona and Real have been given the chance to sign Ruiz in a cut-price deal and both clubs are considering the deal. However they may prefer to wait until next summer when they can pick him up on a Bosman.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/foo...sedgntp&cvid=7a079de9dc2d4ee5a5a14a543242e79d
 
Paris St-Germain have signed defender Nordi Mukiele from RB Leipzig on a five-year-deal.

The France international spent four years in Germany after joining from Montpellier, helping Leipzig reach a Europa League semi-final and win the German Cup.

He made 145 appearances for the Bundesliga club, scoring 10 goals and recording 11 assists.

The 24-year-old had previously attracted attention from Chelsea.

Mukiele has represented France from under-18 level and earned his first senior cap in a World Cup qualifier against Finland in September 2021.

The right-back, who can also play as a centre-back, is PSG's third signing of the summer with French striker Hugo Ekitike joining on a season-long loan from Reims and Portuguese midfielder Vitinha on a five-year-deal from Porto.

He is the second to be announced since the arrival of new manager Christophe Galtier, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino.

BBC
 
Renato Sanches has signed a five-year contract with French champions Paris St-Germain until June 2027.

The 24-year-old Portugal midfielder joins the Parisians from Lille, where he won the Ligue 1 title in 2020-21.

He scored six goals in 90 appearances for Lille after signing from Bayern Munich in August 2019.

Sanches briefly played on loan at Swansea City in the 2017-18 Premier League season during his time at Bayern.

The Benfica academy graduate had also been linked with a move to Italian champions AC Milan this summer.

Sanches previously worked with PSG manager Christophe Galtier during their time together at Lille.

He is PSG's fourth signing of the summer with French striker Hugo Ekitike joining on a season-long loan from Reims, Portuguese midfielder Vitinha signing a five-year deal from Porto and France defender Nordi Mukiele moving from RB Leipzig.

He is the third to be announced since the arrival of new manager Galtier, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino last month.
 
Neymar scored and set up three more goals as Paris St-Germain started their Ligue 1 title defence with an emphatic victory at Clermont.

The Brazilian opened the scoring as he collected a Lionel Messi cutback and fired into the bottom corner.

Achraf Hakimi finished off a devastating counter-attack, before Marquinhos and Messi converted crosses from Neymar.

Messi rounded off the scoring with a brilliant overhead kick.

After Neymar gave the 10-time French champions the lead after 10 minutes, Morocco right-back Hakimi latched on to a cross-field pass from Neymar before firing into the top right-hand corner from 10 yards.

Marquinhos then leaped highest to head home a Neymar free-kick from the left to give Christophe Galtier's side a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead.

Messi stroked home a Neymar cutback from 12 yards with 10 minutes left, before finishing the scoring by controlling Leandro Paredes' dinked pass with his chest before acrobatically sending the ball over Mory Diaw.

The match was Galtier's first league game in charge since taking over from former Southampton and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
 
Neymar scored twice as Paris St-Germain made it two Ligue 1 wins from two under new boss Christophe Galtier with a resounding defeat of Montpellier. (5-2)

While Kylian Mbappe saw a first-half penalty saved, PSG went ahead through Falaye Sacko's own goal.

Neymar scored from the spot and headed his second to put the hosts three up.

Wahbi Khazri and Enzo Tchato were on target for Montpellier but Mbappe and Renato Sanches goals ensured another emphatic win for PSG.

In Galiter's first home game as boss, PSG dominated from the start, earning a 23rd-minute penalty after a Jordan Ferri handball.

While Mbappe was denied by Jonas Omlin, Sacko turned the ball into his own net before Neymar continued his fine form with a double either side of the break - having scored one and set up another three in last week's 5-0 win at Clermont.

Former Sunderland forward Khazri pulled one back for Montpellier but goals from Mbappe and Sanches - either side of what would have been a Neymar hat-trick goal being chalked off for offside - put PSG 5-1 clear before Tchato's superb consolation strike in added time.
 
Kylian Mbappe scored after eight seconds on his way to a hat-trick as Paris St-Germain thrashed Lille to keep up their winning start to the season.

In a move off the training ground, the visitors fed Lionel Messi, who clipped the ball over the Lille defence for Mbappe to dink past Leo Jardim.

Messi added a second and Achraf Hakimi hit a third before Neymar scored twice.

Mbappe scored two more after the break while Jonathan Bamba pulled one back for the hosts.

PSG's biggest victory against Lille, who seized their French crown in 2020-21, means they are top of Ligue 1 after scoring 16 goals in their opening three wins in the defence of their title.

Lille drop to 12th place after this emphatic home defeat.

BBC
 
On 10 August 2021, the footballing world drew a collective gasp of breath as Lionel Messi joined Paris St-Germain.

It was always assumed that Messi and Barcelona had an unbreakable bond, but the Catalan club's financial situation dictated otherwise and it led to the formation of a star-studded attacking trident, with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe already in the French capital.

Things did not go smoothly during their first season together in Paris though and, despite winning the league, the trio struggled to perform as a cohesive unit that maximised each other's talents.

This culminated in a Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Real Madrid.

PSG only scored two goals in 180 minutes, which both originated from Mbappe's individual speed and brilliance, rather than any move involving himself, Neymar and Messi.

Former boss Mauricio Pochettino's tactical setup was seen a major contributor to this, with a reluctance from the Argentine coach to deviate from a 4-3-3 system, leaving 35-year-old Messi and Neymar, 30, in the wide forward roles - not ideal for players lacking explosive page at this stage of their careers.

So, before PSG's Champions League opener at home to Juventus on Tuesday, what has changed since Pochettino's departure?

And could the summer arrival of former Lille and Nice coach Christophe Galtier finally help end their wait for Champions League success?

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New manager breathes new life into trio
Messi, Neymar and Mbappe have made an explosive start to the new campaign, with 32 goals and assists between them already this season, as they relish Galtier's 3-4-3 formation.

Neymar and Messi have already got 22 goals and assists after six games this campaign, compared to just 36 in all of last season.

With Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos' range of passing and Presnel Kimpembe's ability to carry the ball into midfield, PSG possess three centre-backs who provide the perfect platform to play possession-based football.

The system also meshes well with the style of their wing-backs. Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi are explosive athletes who flourish when allowed to charge forwards and carry the ball into the final third.

Unburdening them from deeper defensive responsibilities, with three centre-backs behind them, allows them this freedom.

In front of the three centre-backs is a midfield double pivot. Galtier seems to have settled on a first-choice pairing of club stalwart Marco Verratti alongside new signing Vitinha, who had a spell with Wolves in the Premier League.

Verratti (averaging 83 passes per game) is given the responsibility to dictate the majority of play from a deeper position while Vitinha (52 passes per game) is often encouraged to push higher up the pitch and initiate combination play with the wing-backs and front three.

This midfield dynamic has ensured that the front three are not disconnected from the rest of the team's build-up.

While PSG's wing-backs are allowed to get high up the pitch, Galtier also wants them to stay wide and focus on stretching the pitch to create space, rather than moving infield.

The positional freedom is afforded to the players inside of the wing-backs: Neymar, Mbappe and Messi.

Front three combining
The width provided by the wing-backs means that PSG's star attacking trio can now play closer to each other and combine.

All three players have immense technical quality, which has led to some mesmerising final-third moves.

Messi and Neymar now both have six assists each in the league this season - that places them as the top two assist makers from all of Europe's top five leagues.

The level of the trio's central combination play is so high that inevitably there are phases of play when the opposition defence are drawn in towards them. This creates space on the flanks for the aforementioned rapid wing-backs to exploit.

The formation has also enhanced PSG's counter-attacking threat. Neymar and Messi are now often positioned centrally when opposition moves break down.

This results in them picking up the ball in midfield areas and quickly launching accurate passes to find Mbappe's lightning-quick runs in-behind defences.

Off the ball impact
The other aspect of PSG's play that has changed with Galtier's tactics is their pressing.

Instead of asking the front three to cover large distances in Pochettino's previous 4-3-3, Mbappe, Neymar and Messi's off-ball roles are now confined to pressing opposition centre-backs and the defensive midfielder.

The pressing of the opposition full-backs is now left to the PSG wing-backs. This helps conserve the energy of the ageing Neymar and Messi for their on-ball activities, and also strengthens PSG's defensive structure.

PSG have already scored three goals this season from Hakimi pressing high from right wing-back and disrupting attacks.

Furthermore, if the opposition overloads a flank with two players, PSG can now fall back into a flat back five to enable the wing-back and wide centre-back to cover them, rather than asking Neymar and Messi to track all the way back into their own half.

Juventus' visit to the Parc des Princes on Tuesday will be Galtier's biggest test yet to see if their Ligue 1 performances can translate to the Champions League.

Galtier has provided the tactical structure for PSG's famous front three to combine. Now it is up to the individuals to perform.
 
Brazil forward Neymar became Paris St-Germain's fourth top-scorer of all time as the French champions held on for a narrow win at home to Brest.

The 30-year-old claimed his 110th goal to move in front of ex-Portugal striker Pauleta on PSG's list of scorers.

PSG were unable to add to their lead and then Brest won a penalty on 70 minutes - but Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Islam Slimani's tame spot-kick.

Victory sent unbeaten PSG back above Lens at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Lens led Ligue 1 after winning 1-0 at home to Troyes on Friday, but Marseille will go level on points with PSG if they beat visitors Lille later on Saturday.

Lionel Messi chipped the ball forward for Neymar to score his eighth goal from seven Ligue 1 game this season.

The Brazil forward took a touch with his right foot before firing in with his left.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is next on PSG's all-time scorers list with 156, while Neymar's team-mate Kylian Mbappe is second with 180.

Christophe Herelle was shown a red card for bringing down Neymar but the decision was overturned as a review showed the PSG forward was offside before the tackle.

Messi and Mbappe spurned chances either side of half-time and looked set to pay for the misses when Presnel Kimpembe committed the foul for the penalty.

However Donnarumma denied Slimani then made another diving save after a cross diverted goalwards off the Brest forward's shoulder.
 
Paris St-Germain are planning to offer Lionel Messi a new contract and Barcelona are interested in re-signing the Argentina forward, but the 35-year-old will not make a decision on his future until after the World Cup. (Fabrizio Romano)
 
Paris St-Germain want Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, and Spain defender Sergio Ramos, 36, to renew their contracts.
 
Lionel Messi has been ruled out of Paris St-Germain's Champions League fixture with Benfica on Tuesday with a calf injury.

Messi, 35, scored in the reverse fixture in Portugal last week before being withdrawn late on.

The Argentina forward also missed Saturday's Ligue 1 draw against Reims in which PSG failed to score in the league for the first time this season.

PSG top Group H on seven points, level with Benfica, with Juventus third.

Presnel Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes and Renato Sanches are also set to miss the fixture for the hosts at Parc des Princes.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kylian Mbappé: “I have not asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain in January. I’m not furious with the club, it’s not true”, says to <a href="https://twitter.com/RMCsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rmcsport</a> after the game vs OM. 🚨🔴🔵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSG</a> <a href="https://t.co/j0iRi60Jbu">pic.twitter.com/j0iRi60Jbu</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1581761502448877568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar all scored as defending champions Paris St-Germain twice came from behind to beat Troyes in Ligue 1.

Messi and Neymar each scored and assisted one goal as Carlos Soler bagged one and Mbappe netted a penalty at the Parc des Princes.

The star trio have scored 43 goals between them already this season.

The victory restored PSG's five-point advantage over second-placed Lens at the top of Ligue 1.

Troyes opened the scoring in the third minute as Mama Balde lashed home a volley before Neymar's clipped pass found Soler to level proceedings.

Balde got a second for Troyes, who are 11th in the French top flight, with a low strike to regain their lead against the run of play.

But in the space of seven minutes, seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi hammered home his 12th goal of the campaign from 25 yards out and threaded a pinpoint pass through to Neymar, who fired past Troyes keeper Gauthier Gallon to make it 3-2.

Mbappe drilled home a penalty to extend PSG's lead before Ante Palaversa pulled one back for the visitors late on.

All four goalscorers also scored in PSG's 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa as the team reached the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

The 10-time Ligue 1 champions, who are unbeaten in all competitions this season, will face Juventus on Wednesday with a win securing top spot in Champions League Group H.

Charges for corruption and fraud were dropped against Neymar earlier this week in a trial in Spain over his 2013 transfer from Santos to Barcelona.
 
Paris St-Germain are threatening to quit the Parc de Princes in a row over ownership of the stadium.

PSG have played in the 47,000-capacity stadium since 1974 but believe it needs significant renovation which will cost around 500m euros (£443.45m).

They are willing to fund the work, but only if they are allowed to buy it.

This plan has been rejected by the mayor of Paris, who told newspaper Le Parisien: "Parc des Princes is not for sale. And it will not be sold."

PSG have reacted angrily, arguing the stance will cost taxpayers money.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64278629
 
A fine Lionel Messi strike earned Paris St-Germain a comeback win over Toulouse and moved them eight points clear in Ligue 1.

Mid-table Toulouse took a surprise lead in Paris, Branco van den Boomen scoring a free-kick after 20 minutes.

Achraf Hakimi drew PSG level before half-time, and after the break, Messi curled home expertly from 25 yards.

The win moves PSG on to 54 points from 22 games, eight ahead of second-placed Marseille.

PSG were missing both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar because of injuries, and surprisingly fell behind to a set-piece by Dutch midfielder Van den Boomen.

Hakimi made it 1-1 with a curling effort, before Messi took centre stage just before the hour mark with a left-footed bending first-time strike low into the corner of the net.

It was Messi's 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season and his 15th overall.

Marseille, second in Ligue 1 play Nice on Sunday and then host the PSG in the Coupe de France last 16 next week.

Mbappe will miss that game and the Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayern Munich on 14 February after being ruled out for three weeks with a thigh injury suffered in the 3-1 win at Montpellier last Wednesday.
 
Neymar was carried off on a stretcher before Lionel Messi scored a 95th-minute winner as Paris St-Germain gained an incredible win over Lille.

PSG had been 2-0 ahead and 3-2 behind after goals from Lille's Bafode Diakite, Jonathan David and Jonathan Bamba transformed the match.

Kylian Mbappe, who opened the scoring, grabbed his second in the 87th minute to give PSG hope of victory.

Messi then won it in dramatic fashion with a 22-yard free-kick.

Despite the win, PSG's main concern will be for Brazil forward Neymar after the 31-year-old, a goalscorer in the first half, was kicked on his calf and then went over badly on his right ankle five minutes into the second half.

He looked in great pain with his hands over his face as he was carried off at the Parc des Princes.

The result means PSG are eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1, although second-placed Marseille will cut the gap to five if they win at mid-table Toulouse later on Sunday (19:45 GMT).

PSG came into this match on a three-game losing run following a 2-1 loss to Marseille in the last 16 of the French Cup, a 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat by Monaco and a 1-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

But they looked in complete control against Lille and were 2-0 ahead after only 17 minutes.

Mbappe showed great skill to jink past Tiago Djalo and Diakite to score the first goal, before Neymar doubled the advantage, scoring from a rebound after Vitinha's effort bounced off goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

But Lille, beaten 7-1 at home by PSG in August, pulled one back through Diakite's 24th-minute glancing header.

PSG had already lost left-back Nuno Mendes to injury before Neymar was carried off.

David's penalty, following a foul by Marco Verratti, made it 2-2 and Bamba's powerful strike put the visitors ahead in the 69th minute.

However, Lille could not hang on. Mbappe hit a low shot into the corner with three minutes of normal time to go for his 15th Ligue 1 goal of the season, before Messi's late winner provided the final piece of drama in this seven-goal thriller.

PSG are next in action on 26 February, when they play title rivals Marseille away from home.

BBC
 
Sergio Ramos: Spain defender retires from international football with a 'heavy heart'

Spain's 2010 World Cup-winner Sergio Ramos says he is retiring from international football with a "heavy heart" after being told he will not be picked by new boss Luis de la Fuente.

The 36-year-old Paris St-Germain defender is Spain's most capped player of all time with 180 appearances.

He has not played for Spain since March 2021 and was left out of former coach Luis Enrique's World Cup squad.

"The time has come," Ramos posted on social media on Thursday.

"The time to say goodbye to our beloved and exciting national team.

"It's the end of a road that I hoped would stretch out further and would end with a better taste in my mouth, on a par with all the success we achieved with La Roja."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64751976
 
PSG have been knocked out of the UCL in the RO16 for the 5th time in 7 seasons.

All that state-backed spending and accumulation of the world's best talent, absolutely nothing on the European stage to show for it. A club of mercenaries, top to bottom.
 
PSG head coach Christophe Galtier has denied making racist comments and welcomes an investigation into the matter

In a leaked email sent to Nice owners, while he was manager of the club, he's alleged to have said there were too many black and Muslim players in his squad
 
Paris St-Germain are increasing security at the homes of Lionel Messi and Neymar following protests by fans.

The Ligue 1 side have lost three of their last six league games and are out of the Champions League.

Supporters gathered outside Neymar's Paris home on Wednesday and chanted for him to leave the club.

"Paris St-Germain condemns in the strongest possible terms the unacceptable and insulting actions," the club said in a statement,

"Whatever the differences of opinion, nothing justifies such behaviour," it added.

Argentine Messi, 35, is to leave PSG when his contract runs out in the summer, while Neymar, 31, is out injured.

The Brazil international was ruled out for the rest of the season in March because of an ankle injury.

Messi was suspended by PSG for two weeks on Tuesday after travelling to Saudi Arabia without the club's permission.

It followed PSG's home defeat by Lorient which reduced their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to five points with five games remaining.

Several hundred PSG fans gathered outside the club's headquarters on Wednesday and set off smoke flares and chanted about Messi, Neymar and Italy midfielder Marco Verratti. Some then went to Neymar's home.

The actions of the fans have prompted the club to increase security at the homes of Messi, Neymar, Verratti and manager Christophe Galtier, as well as at the club's training ground.

The club refused to comment when asked about security measures by BBC Sport.
 
Paris Saint-Germain have left the door open for Lionel Messi to continue with the club next season, despite him currently serving a suspension.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is a free agent this summer but it is unclear where he will play his football next season.

Messi was suspended by the French club this week for jetting off for an unsanctioned commercial trip to Saudi Arabia, when he was scheduled to attend training on Monday with the rest of the squad.

It appeared that the saga would spell the end of Messi’s time in Paris but according to The Times, PSG’s Qatari owners want to keep hold of the 35-year-old.

Messi surprised PSG chiefs on Friday with a public apology on social media.

“I wanted to make this video after everything that is happening,” said Messi on his Instagram account. “First of all, I apologise to my team-mates, to the club. Honestly, I thought we were going to have a day off after the game, as had been happening in previous weeks.

“I had this trip to Arabia organised and I couldn’t cancel it. I had already cancelled it before. I repeat again and apologise for what I did. Here I am, waiting for what the club decides.”

PSG and Messi had verbally agreed an extension after the World Cup but a disastrous second-half of the season for PSG coupled with disgruntlement from the club’s supporters has changed the mood around the Parc des Princes.

Messi wants to continue at a Champions League level club and knows that PSG have offered the best financial package.

The report claims PSG do not wish to discuss the possible extension with Messi until after Sunday’s clash with Troyes.

PSG face a must-win game against the Ligue 1 strugglers as they aim to stretch their lead over second-placed Lens to six points.

Barcelona remain interested in bringing Messi back to the Nou Camp but financial restrictions make a deal for the Argentine difficult to pull off.

MLS side Inter Miami have never hidden their hopes of luring Messi to South Florida while the Saudi Pro League are keen to bring Messi to the Middle East to go head to head with Cristiano Ronaldo one final time.
 
French champions Paris St-Germain are close to appointing Luis Enrique as their new manager.

PSG have not yet confirmed the exit of boss Christophe Galtier, but it is widely assumed his spell at the club will come to an end this summer.

Galtier, 56, was appointed as Mauricio Pochettino's successor in July 2022 but fell short of expectations.

Luis Enrique has been linked with numerous jobs since leaving Spain after the World Cup in Qatar.

PSG turned to the 53-year-old after talks with former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann ended without agreement.

Luis Enrique made his name as a player with Barcelona before becoming head coach at the Nou Camp between 2014 and 2017.

PSG are intent on resetting the club and trying to build a team rather than continuing the policy of signing a collection of expensive high-profile players, which has so far failed to deliver the Champions League success demanded by the club's Qatari owners.

Galtier made a strong start to life in the French capital, avoiding defeat in 22 games across all competitions, and PSG sat five points clear at the top of Ligue 1 when the season paused for the World Cup.

However, they lost nine times after club football resumed and limped over the line to finish just a point clear of Lens in the league, while exiting the Champions League in the last 16 to Bayern.
 
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