Lionel Messi was booed by the home supporters on his return to action as Paris Saint-Germain took a step closer to the Ligue 1 title with a 5-0 victory over Ajaccio, a result that consigned the visitors to relegation.
Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave PSG a comfortable lead at half-time and Kylian Mbappe got in on the act with a second-half brace at Parc des Princes. Mohamed Youssouf’s own goal compounded the visitors’ misery before Hakimi and Ajaccio midfielder Thomas Mangani were sent off following a melee.
The win – which restores PSG’s lead at the top of the table to six points – was soured with the booing of Lionel Messi, who was restored to Christophe Galtier’s side following his suspension for taking an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. With just three games remaining, a win at Auxerre on Sunday, May 21, would all but secure back-to-back titles for PSG.
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PSG had lost three of their previous four games at Parc des Princes but were in control from the first whistle on this occasion and led in the 21st-minute when Ruiz raced onto Danilo’s through ball and lifted it over Francois-Joseph Sollacaro.
Hakimi made it two with the simplest of finishes after Kylian Mbappe’s effort was parried into his path by the Ajaccio goalkeeper. The referee confirmed the goal stood after re-watching it on the pitch side monitor following a suspected handball by Mbappe.
Mbappe got in on the act just two minutes after the break, sweeping home from close range after a scramble inside the Ajaccio penalty area. If that goal was scrappy, his second was anything but as he volleyed a sumptuous first-time effort past the helpless Sollacaro.
PSG were cutting their opponents open at will as Marquinhos’ cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Youssouf to make it 5-0 before Hakimi and Mangani were sent off for their part in a scuffle from players of both sides.
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Lionel Messi was jeered by his own supporters, and while it wasn’t the first time this season the Argentina star has been targeted, the boos felt louder and more pronounced.
The disrespect shown to the World Cup winner didn’t go unnoticed to Messi, whose body language told its own story. He appeared rather subdued throughout the night despite playing his part in another handsome victory.
To treat arguably the greatest player of all time like this will cause much debate and seems rather strange, given Lionel Messi has contributed with 15 goals and 15 assists this term.
