Lionel Messi was on the scoresheet as PSG beat Montpellier 3-1 away on Wednesday to open up a five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1. However, it wasn't all good for the Parisians with Kylian Mbappé going off injured in the 21st minute while Sergio Ramos joined him in the 32nd.
PSG's all-important Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes is just 13 days away, and the team was already playing without Neymar because of "muscle fatigue" although the Brazilian should be back this weekend.
Mbappé had a forgettable evening from start to premature finish.
In the ninth-minute, after Ramos had been dragged to the ground while trying to get on the end of a Messi set-piece, Mbappé had his penalty stonewalled by Benjamin Lecomte.
KYLIAN MBAPPE MISSES THE PENALTY
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 1, 2023
But the VAR said Montpellier players had rushed into the area too eagerly and Mbappé was given another attempt. This one was even more embarrassing as Lecomte pushed the spot kick onto the post before Mbappé blazed the rebound over.
MBAPPE MISSES...AGAIN
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 1, 2023
Then he got hurt.
MBAPPE LEAVES THE PITCH INJURED
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 1, 2023
Messi and Achraf Hakimi had goals ruled out for offside, but Fabián Ruiz finally gave PSG a 1-0 lead in the 55th-minute. In the 72nd, Messi made it 2-0 with his ninth goal in 17 league games.
LIOOONEEEL MESSIIII ⚽️ What a goal by the GOAT
0-2Enjoy Montpellier PSG LIVE NOW on beIN SPORTS #Ligue1 # pic.twitter.com/z4yGXBYetM
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 1, 2023
Arnaud Nordin gave Montpellier supporters something to cheer for in the 89th minute by pulling one back, but 16-year-old PSG midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery became the youngest goalscorer in PSG history to make it 3-1.
¡GOOOL DEL PSG!
Warren Zaire-Emery pone el 1-3 para los parisinosNo te pierdas el Montpellier vs. PSG en vivo por beIN SPORTS Ñ #Ligue1 #MHSCPSG pic.twitter.com/7E5dwslzsF
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) February 1, 2023
PSG plays Toulouse on Feb. 4 before Le Classique against Marseille in the Coupe de France Round of 16 on Feb. 8.
