Thursday, March 28

Messi returns, Ramos scores and PSG sails


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Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi returned, another notable signing Sergio Ramos scored as Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 4-0 win over Reims on Sunday to restore their Ligue 1 lead to 11 points.

“We had a good game, we took three points,” said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Earlier, Nice briefly pulled one back with a 2-0 win at Metz. But three of the teams just behind them lost.

Messi, returning from Covid, started on the bench while Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting lineup after a groin strain while Ramos made only his second league start of the season.

Marco Verratti put PSG ahead in the final minute of a slow first half, scoring his first Ligue 1 goal since May 2017.

“It’s good that a player who doesn’t score often does,” Pochettino said.

PSG picked up the pace after the break.

Ramos, who arrived from Real in the summer, scored his first goal for the club. The center-back was the one who reacted the fastest to a loose ball in a PSG corner. After Predrag Rajkovic saved his first shot, the Spaniard reacted faster again to close out the rebound.

“I’m happy to have played the 90 minutes and personally I’m happy because it’s my first goal for PSG, I hope there will be many more,” Ramos said.

“It’s been three weeks since I started playing normally with the group,” he said. “We have the cup, we have the league, we have the Champions League, this is the best time to get in shape”.

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Pochettino was happy with the goal.

“It’s good that he scored like Marco. He played a good game,” said the coach.

That goal put Ramos level with Messi for a league goal this season, it also acted as the signal for Pochettino to send Messi off.

In the 67th minute, Messi set up Verratti for a shot that deflected past two defenders and into the top corner.

Danilo Pereira added a fourth as PSG equaled their biggest league win of the season.

Earlier, Khephren Thuram’s goal set up a precious 2-0 away win for Nice as they defeated struggling Metz to return to second place.

Khephren, the 20-year-old son of World Cup winner Lilian, opened the scoring in the 58th minute, while a late strike from Amine Gouiri completed the victory with a cheeky Panenka.

The three points lift Nice above bitter south coast rivals Marseille, who are two points behind in third with one game to go.

“We are still too far away (from PSG) to think about the top spot. I am more worried about what comes after us,” Nice coach Christophe Galtier said.

“It’s about collecting points and that can be difficult when the opponent is fighting relegation.”

‘Perfect game’

Strasbourg lost 4-3 in Bordeaux, where Hwang Ui-Jo hit a hat-trick to knock the home team out of the bottom three.

Bordeaux, who had not scored in three league and cup games this year and conceded 10, scored three in the first 38 minutes but sweated for victory when their defense leaked three goals.

“Hwang had a perfect game, he rescued us several times. He had some difficulties in the last few games, so I am very happy that he is back,” said Vladimir Petkovic, Bordeaux’s coach under threat.

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“I’m sorry we let three goals in,” Petkovic said. “We had a very good first half, but then the fear of winning the game took over.”

Lionel Messi was animated on his return to PSG
Lionel Messi was animated on his return to PSG Franck FIFE AFP

Rennes took an 18th-minute lead over another struggling Clermont with a goal from Baptiste Santamaria, but missed several other chances and paid in the second half.

Former Rennes player Lucas Da Cunha equalized in the 59th minute and Jordan Tell scored in the 70th minute.

Montpellier beat Monaco 3-2 to climb sixth.

Elye Wahi gave the home team a lead in the 13th minute and Stephy Mavididi scored twice, the winning goal coming in stoppage time.

Wissam Ben Yedder and Vanderson scored for Monaco, who drop to seventh.


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