Catch the HIGHLIGHTS from Sportstar’s coverage of Nantes vs PSG Ligue 1 being played at Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes.
To add to PSG’s delight, Mbappe and Neymar are now level at the top of the leading goalscorers list in Ligue 1. Messi, too, tied Neymar in the most assists in the league with 6.
Galtier would be pleased with the performance of his team before the big encounter against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.
Today’s win sees PSG reclaim the top spot in Ligue 1 with 16 points from six games. Marseille has equal points but the Paris club has a superior goal difference.
Full Time
And the referee blows the final whistle and brings the game to an end.
An attack by Nantes. Appiah is charging from the left when he gets the ball. The winger completes a couple of stepovers and intends to curl the ball into the right. He strikes the ball with the laces, however, and sends the ball away from the goal.
Magical from La Pulga. Messi is moving forward with the ball when he sees an onrushing defender. He quickly repositions himself and takes the ball from behind his back and past the Nantes player. He finds a pass to Neymar but nothing comes from the attack.
Messi with a solo effort in the Nantes box. He is running everywhere but Nantes shirts surround him throughout and prevent a goal.
A substitution for Nantes. Marcus Coco replaces Mostafa Mohamed.
Appeals for handball by PSG. Ekitike finds Mendes on the run and plays him a through pass. The left-back cuts the ball back and finds Messi waiting. The Argentine’s shot is on target but blocked by the arm of a Nantes player. It was, however, tucked to his body and the referee denies any penalty claims.
Messi steps over the set piece but he fails to get the ball to dink in time. As a result, it goes sailing over the cross bar and the score sheet remains unchanged.
PSG build another attack. Messi with the ball in the centre, played a soft pass to Neymar. The Brazilian with his flair goes for a side flick to Ekitike who is pulled down by the defender. Free kick to PSG.
Another change for Galtier’s side. Sarabia is taken off and on comes Ekitike.
68’ Nantes 0-3 PSG
A well worked attack by the visiting side. Sarabia and Neymar combine in the centre to move the ball forward. Neymar then plays it to Mendes on the left. He shoots but Lafont blocks. Messi is there to collect the rebound but ends up lashing the ball over the crossbar.
A couple of changes for PSG. Neymar comes on in place of Mbappe and Sergio Ramos replaces Marco Verratti.
A goal line clearance denies Mbappe a hattrick. Mbappe gets the ball in Nantes penalty area. He is able to get past the keeper who moves up from his goal line. Mbappe’s shot with the left foot is blocked just before entering the goal by Pallois.
This could be trouble for Nantes. PSG are going all-out attack at the 10-man team.
54’ Nantes 0-2 PSG
GOAL FOR PSG! VAR checks the decision and finds out Appiah was playing Mbappe onside. PSG players break out into a celebration and the visiting side doubles its lead.
PSG’s goal is ruled offside. Another Messi-Mbappe combo gave a goal to the visitors. However, Mbappe’s initial run behind the Nantes defence was offside. Good call by the assistant.
Messi is given space on the right side when he gets a pass from Hakimi. He threads it to Sarabia in the centre of the field but Sarabia fails to collect it.
Nantes is breaking out in a counter attack but is halted by a foul by Verratti. The Italian knew what he was doing and is shown a yellow card.
PSG is in control of the ball until Messi is surrounded by a host of Nantes players who manage to steal the ball from him.
And we’re under way. A change for PSG. Juan Bernat makes way for Nuno Mendes at left-back.
It has been a tough 45 minutes for the home side. They struggled to string together any moves as PSG held control of the ball. Mbappe’s opening goal was trouble enough for Nantes and Fabio’s sending off added to the woes of Kombouare’s side. He would now hope his side tighten its back line and prevent PSG from adding to its goals tally. More from the match after half-time.
The four minutes of stoppage time come to an end. PSG had a chance to double their lead. Messi was dribbling past in the centre and moved into the penalty area. He ended up taking on too many Nantes shirts and was muscled away from the ball.
45+2’ Yellow Card - PSG
Messi somehow gets the ball in the penalty area. He tries his usual way to squeeze past the Nantes shirts and take a shot. He only manages to do that with his right foot. The shot is weak and easily blocked.
Bernat gently rolls the ball into Nantes penalty area and no body bothers to tracks the run of Messi. He breezes past half of Nantes’ line up and last-ditch tackle is needed from Girotto to prevent another goal.
The first corner of the game for Nantes. Mohamed breaks out in behind the PSG defense and he receives the ball. He tries to work the ball past Kimpembe. The Frenchman is not allowing it and hits the ball out for a corner.
Juan Bernat finds himself with ample time and space in the Nantes penalty area. He tries two crosses into the box. The first one is blocked by a defender and the second is parried away by Lafont.
Messi with his dancing shoes on the edge of Nantes penalty area. He skip to his left and guides a through ball to Mbappe making a run in-behind. He puts too much weight on the pass and the ball rolls safely into Lafont’s arms.
Messi takes the free kick and goes for the goal. Lafont jumps and collects the ball. Update - Renato Sanches has been brought on in place of Vitinha.
33’ Yellow Card - Nantes
Another card for Nantes. Pallois gets a yellow card. He is late in his tackle to Sarabia on the right hand side. Free kick to PSG.
Galtier gives the order to Renato Sanches to warm up. It looks like Vitinha is not in the condition to continue. Both teams recommence the game with 10 players.
Vitinha is down on the ground and medical staff is working to get the PSG midfielder in shape to continue with the game.
24’ Red Card - Nantes
We have a red card! Nantes’ Fabio is sent off by the referee. Vitinha and Fabio are vying for a common ball. Fabio comes flying in and goes studs-first onto Vitinha’s shin. The referee straight away goes into his pocket and shows him a red card.
Nantes attacks and Appiah finds himself one-on-one with Hakimi. He goes for a stepover and crosses the ball into the box. The weight behind the ball is too much and it goes out of play behind the goal line.
17’ Nantes 0-1 PSG
PSG SCORES! It was coming. Goal - Mbappe Assist - Messi
PSG are mounting attack after attack here in Beaujoire Stadium. This time from a corner. Periera’s header lands at Marquinhos’ feet and he goes for a volley. The ball stays low and misses the far post by a whisker.
PSG should have scored there. Mbappe gets the ball on left-hand side and sends it into the centre of the Nantes penalty area. Pereira is waiting there but his shot is bang in the middle and Lefont saves.
Messi again threads a pass from the left side. This time its to Sarabia and this it goes through. Sarabia backheels the ball in an attempt to complete a one-two. Defender steps in in time and concedes a corner.
Almost a chance for Nantes! Lafont goes long with the ball that he collected. It ends up rolling in the PSG box and Moutoussamy comes running in with his shot. The shot has too much power and goes long.
The corner is taken long by Messi. He aims for the back post but the ball is cleared and lands at Mbappe’s feet on the right side. He crosses but the ball is safely collected by Lafont.
There’s some delay in proceedings as the stewards sort out an issue in the stands. The referee has asked to stop till the issue is resolved.
Corner for PSG! Mbappe gets a pass and he skips past a rushing Nantes shirt. He, however, falls and the ball rolls to Messi who takes a couple of steps and shoots. The ball goes flying into the stands thanks to a timely interception by Nantes defender.
Messi receives a pass in the final third for PSG. He dribbles forward and tries to thread the pass through to Mbappe who makes a run in behind. The defender reads the motive and clears the ball to avert any danger.
PSG controls the opening seconds of the game with Verratti dictating the passes. A slip by Mbappe hands the ball to Nantes but nothing comes off the lost possession.
It is Paris Saint Germain that gets the proceedings underway here in Nantes. Messi with the centre kick but referee calls the ball back for a retake. The game begins!
The players are making their out on to the field. The Beujoire Stadium is jam-packed and ready to extend its support to the home team.
Live action is about to begin shortly. The kick-off is at 12:30 AM IST.
Here are the substitutes for the two teams:
Substitutes - Nantes vs PSG
As was expected, Christopher Galtier preferred to rest his side’s top player Neymar before the Champions League Group H encounter against Juventus.
Playing XI - Nantes vs Paris Saint Germain
The line ups will be out shortly - With a Champions League encounter against Juventus next week, will PSG start Messi, Neymar and Mbappe together?
Lionel Messi has also found a rich vein of form in the opening few weeks of the new season. The Argentine has three goals and four goals so far.
PREVIEW
Paris Saint Germain travels to Nantes in the sixth game week of Ligue 1 2022/23. It comes on the back of a 3-0 away win against Toulouse on Thursday.
The Paris club has enjoyed a solid start to the season. It has won four out of the five matches, with the only draw coming against AS Monaco on August 29.
Talisman Neymar has been in red-hot form for PSG. The Brazilian leads the league tally in goals (7) and assists (6). The second-highest goalscorer in the league with five goals is Kylian Mbappe.
Nantes, on the other hand, is currently in 10th place. It has only won one match so far, 3-1 against Toulouse on August 28.
With Olympique Marseille winning its match against Auxerre earlier today, Paris Saint Germain slipped to second place. A win at the Beaujoire Stadium will take it back to the top spot.
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