MATCH REPORT: Ligue 1: Icardi gives PSG win over Lyon on Messi home debut
What drama as Mauro Icardi's 94th-minute header wins the match for PSG.
After a goalless first half, it was Lyon, which struck the first blow with Lucas Paqueta opening the scoring in the match. It did not take long for PSG to equalise as Neymar, after being fouled inside the box, converted from the spot to make the score 1-1.
It seemed that Lyon will clinch a precious point at the Parc des Princes but Kylian Mbappe's cross in the 94th-minute found Icardi's head and the Argentine made no mistake in guiding the ball past a helpless Lopes.
Stay tuned for the match report!!!
FULL TIME!! PSG 2-1 LYON!!
90+3' GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! PSG SNATCHES A WINNER!! ITS MAURO ICARDI!!! Mbappe, who was largely invisible in the second half, with a beautiful cross, which found Icardi. It was a good finish by the Argentine. What a time to score. You have to feel bad for Lyon.
90+2' For Lyon, it will be a good point against a strong PSG at its home. For the home team, Pochettino and his men would have surely yearned for all three points. Lyon has been resilient in its performance today.
FOUR ADDITIONAL MINUTES!!
89' BOOKING- Nuno Mendes of PSG sees yellow.
88' Multiple chances by PSG to get a shot away after a corner resulted in typical pinball-football inside the box.
PSG's move broke down and Lyon counters with Cherki but he is fouled and the play is halted.
86' SUB- Lyon goalscorer Paqueta is replaced by Habib Keita.
For PSG, Georginio Wijnaldum replaces Herrera.
84' What's happened there? Neymar with a blistering run but he goes down as he collides with his own teammate, Kehrer. Trying to play a one-two but the move did not materialise.
82' SUB- Maurco Icardi replaces Di Maria for PSG.
81' Neymar is challenged by Gusto and goes down inside the box but no penalty this time despite shouts by PSG players.
80' BOOKING- Lyon keeper Lopes sees yellow for time wasting.
79' SUB- Shaqiri replaced by Rayan Cherki for Lyon.
78' Mbappe, toe to toe with Gusto and ultimately uses his experience to draw a foul from the Lyon player as he is pushed on the back.
Di Maria to take the freekick. His cross into the box is too high.
76' SUB- Messi is replaced by Achraf Hakimi. The Argentine was surprised to see his name on the board for a moment. The wait for his first goal for PSG goes on.
73' Guimaraes with a bad collision with Neymar. He is being treated by the medical personnel.
He leaves the pitch and comes back on again. He is okay to continue.
70' SHOT- Guimaraes with a long-distance effort at Donnarumma's goal. Not a bad effort as the ball sails above goal.
67' BOOKING- PSG captain Marquinhos goes into the referee's book as he sees a yellow. He fouled Lyon goalscorer Paqueta.
66' GOAAAALLLL!!! NEYMAR CONVERTS THE PENALTY!! PSG BACK ON LEVEL TERMS!! It was a cool finish as the Brazilian sent the keeper the wrong way.
65' SUBS- Aouar and Diomande come on for Ekambi and Boateng for Lyon.
63' PENALTY TO PSG!!! Neymar, with his dancing feet proves to be too much for Gusto, who brings him down in the box. Lifeline for the home team.
Wait it is being checked. Replay shows that it was Neymar who was actually holding on to Gusto. CHECK COMPLETE!! PENALTY GIVEN!!
58' PSG with a mountain to climb if it wants to take three points from the match. The goal has given Lyon that extra gear, which is allowing them to venture forward with more zeal and panache.
54' GOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!! ITS PAQUETA FOR LYON!!!! A great ball by Ekambi from the left flank found Paqueta, who had timed his run brilliantly. The first-time finish was exquisite as he slid the ball through Donnarumma's near-post.
50' Neymar draws a foul in a dangerous area again. This time its his national teammate Paqueta with the foul.
Neymar takes the set-piece but the ball kept soaring above goal. Not a good effort.
48' A good chance to counter by PSG as Gueye finds Di Maria with a great ball but the Argentine handled the ball with his hand and play stops.
46' An early ball for Slimani at the start of the second half but the big striker was offside when the ball was played to him.
SECOND-HALF KICKS OFF!!!
Both teams with chances to take the lead in the first half as PSG fails to score in the first half for the first time in the league this season.
Messi came closest to scoring as his freekick hit the crossbar. PSG's forward line looked threatening on multiple occasions but the finishing touch eluding the team from Paris.
For Lyon, Ekamni and Guimaraes have been its standout players, with striker Slimani getting into good positions but like the home team, finishing has been an issue for Peter Bosz's team.
Don't go anywhere!!! Live action awaits in the second half!!!
HALF-TIME!! (PSG 0-0 LYON)
45+3' CHANCE- Mbappe flashes the ball past Lopes, looking for Neymar but the Brazilian could not make a connection as the weight of the pass was too much.
45+2' Pressure on Lyon in the closing stages of the first half. The Messi-Neymar combo from the right to left flank is a potential goal threat Bosz will surely point out to his team at the break.
THREE ADDITIONAL MINUTES!!
43' Neymar attempts a low cross with Messi being the target but Caqueret's touch vital as he directs the ball towards Lopes.
41' Paqueta tries the same thing as Marquinhos as he pinged a ball over the top for Ekambi but the weight of the ball was too much. Donnarumma ventures off his line and collects.
39' Marquinhos with a ball mover the top for Messi. It was a race between Messi and the Lyon keeper Lopes, which the latter won.
37' OFF THE CROSSBAR- After eyeing the goal for a long time, Messi with an almost-perfect freekick as the ball comes off the crossbar. So close.
34' Neymar with a great run and he is ultimately fouled and a freekick is given. It is an extremely dangerous area. Lots of options for PSG.
He is currently being treated by the medical team.
32' CLOSE- Messi inches away from scoring his first goal for PSG. A slips in a great pass to Neymar, who in turn, lays it off for Messi with a cheeky backheel. Messi's shot takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.
31' PSG with a good spell of pressure as Lyon is finding it difficult to get out of its own half.
30' SHOT- A long-distance effort by Ekambi as he takes a venomous shot but it was handled by Donnarumma comfortably. The height was comfortable for the towering Italian keeper.
28' THAT WAS PAINFUL- The Lyon freekick resulted in a fierce collision between Boateng and Donnarumma as both players are on the ground now.
Both are fine as they are up and shake hands. Play resumes. No card shown to Boateng for dangerous play.
26' Gueye took too long to release the ball as Paqueta steals the ball from him but its Messi with the defensive duties as he stops the match with a foul.
23' SHOT- A great run by Messi as he passed the ball to Di Maria to his right. The Argentine cut in and hits a curler but it takes a deflection and goes out of play.
21' Both teams with chances at their ends to take the lead. The finishing has lacked now for both teams.
18' End-to-end play as its Lyon's turn too attack now. A great cross from the left by Ekambi. Slimani rose to meet it but the height was not ideal as the ball flashed past him.
17' SHOT- A great bit of one-two between Mbappe and Messi. Messi takes a shot from the edge of the box but it is comfortable for the keeper.
16' CHANCE- Di Maria with a surging run from the right flank as he tries to thread a ball to Mbappe. However, the ball is cleared before it reaches the running Frenchman.
13' PSG still under pressure as Lyon lines up yet another corner.
This time its a poor one and PSG clears. Lyon gets possession again and sends the ball towards PSG's goal but Donnarumma collects easily.
12' Shaqiri attempts a cross from the right flank but Mendes' interception sends the ball out for a Lyon corner.
The corner was headed away before Gusto shot again towards goal. It is out for another corner.
11' A foul-ridden match till now as the match is stopped again after Gueye is fouled. That is already four fouls within the opening 15 minutes.
9' SHOT- PSG's stellar forward-line links up again as Di Maria takes a shot. It was a good shot but straight at the keeper.
6' BOOKING- PSG's Di Maria becomes the first player to get booked in the match. It was a reckless challenge to be honest on Caqueret.
5' CHANCE- A great bit of interplay between Mbappe and Messi, which sent the latter on a great run and release the ball for Mbappe, who was brought down before he could get his shot away. The loose ball was begging to be put into the net but Lyon clears the ball.
4' PSG keeper Donnarumma was stepped on by Lyon's striker Slimani. The keeper was on the ground for a while but he seems okay to continue after medical attention.
3' CHANCE- Kehrer loses the ball cheaply allowing Lyon to venture forward and attack PSG's goal. It was a momentary phase of pressure, which ends with a Lyon shot at goal but it is not on target.
2' PSG playing with a 4-2-3-1 formation with the front 4 comprising of Di Maria, Neymar, Messi and Mbappe.
1' KICK-OFF!!!
00:15- AND WE ARE UNDERWAY!!! Will Messi impress in his home debut?
00:00 am- STAT ATTACK!!
23:40 pm- How does Peter Bosz intend to stop the maestro?
23:25 pm- LINEUPS ANNOUNCED!!
Paris Saint-Germain XI: Donnarumma (GK); Kimpembe, Marquinhos (C), Mendes; Gueye, Herrera; Di Maria, Neymar Jr, Messi; Mbappe
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
Subs: Navas (GK), Hakimi, Paredes, Rafinha, Icardi, Pereira, Wijnaldum, Diallo, Draxler
Lyon XI: Lopes (GK); Gusto, Boateng, Denayer (C), Emerson; Guimaraes, Caqueret; Ekambi, Paqueta, Shaqiri; Slimani
Coach: Peter Bosz
Subs: Pollersback (GK), Diomande, Lukeba, Aouar, Henrique, Cherki, Keita, Da Silva, Barcola
What the coaches said
Match Preview
Kylian Mbappe is set to be included in Paris St Germain's squad for Sunday's Ligue 1 game at home to Olympique Lyonnais after picking up an ankle injury in the Champions League this week although he will face a last-minute test.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino said the France striker had been recovering well from the injury sustained in the 1-1 draw at Club Brugge on Wednesday.
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"He has trained with the group with some caution. We're happy with the evolution and tomorrow we will see how he responds," Pochettino told a news conference on Saturday.
Lionel Messi is expected to start with Neymar for his first game at the Parc des Princes after playing 30 minutes in a 2-0 win at Stade de Reims last month and the full game at Brugge.
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PSG leads the Ligue 1 standings with a maximum 15 points, seven ahead of Lyon which has won its last two games after a stuttering start to the season and beat Rangers 2-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.
The capital side will again be without ex-Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos, still recovering from a left thigh injury, and midfielder Marco Verratti who has not regained full fitness after picking up a knee injury on international duty with Italy.
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