Flute concerts and singing for Lionel Messi at PSG five-clapper


Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10:53 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 22:56

Paris Saint-Germain had no problem with AJ Ajaccio on Saturday evening: 5-0. However, most attention was focused on the return of Lionel Messi. The Argentinian star player was initially suspended by PSG for two weeks due to his trip to Saudi Arabia, for which he did not have permission. The sanction was reduced to one week, allowing Messi to play again on Saturday night. There were flute concerts and singing for the returning star, who was allowed to stand for ninety minutes by trainer Christophe Galtier.

Galtier had already announced at the press conference on Friday that Messi would get a starting place against Ajaccio. The PSG coach also had Achraf Hakimi at his disposal again, who was serving a suspension for a game after his red card against Lorient. The international of Morocco formed the midfield together with Marco Verratti, Fabián Ruiz and Juan Bernat. The three-man defense of the home club consisted of Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos and Danilo Pereira. Messi was assisted at the forefront by Hugo Ekitike and Kylian Mbappé.

Halfway through the first half, PSG’s goal fest begins. Ekitike pulled away cleverly in the box and seemed to be played by Pereira. However, it was Ruiz who took over the ball, pulled it in and scored from close range: 1-0. At 2-0, goalkeeper François-Joseph Sollacaro saved on a bet by Mbappé, only to be outwitted in the rebound by the alert Hakimi. The fact that PSG fans are quite divided about Messi became apparent when the Argentinian wanted to take a corner kick. A whistle concert could be heard, although the much-discussed attacker was serenaded at the same time. Messi and his teammates went to rest with a comfortable 2-0 lead in the Parc des Princes.

PSG further strengthened the title aspirations after the break. After a messy situation in front of Ajaccio’s goal, Mbappé signed for the 3-0, although the ball rolled very slowly over the line after Sollacaro’s half save. The French attacker was nevertheless very happy with his first goal of the evening. Mbappé had saved the best moment of the one-sided match for the 54th minute. A long ball from the back of Ramos, via a heading Ajaccio defender, ended up with the star player, who did not think and shot hard with a volley on the edge of the box: 4-0. Things got even worse for Ajaccio when a shot by Marquinhos from close range via Mohamed Youssouf ended up in goal: 5-0.

The beautiful evening for PSG in terms of goals and results had a black edge for Hakimi. Three weeks after his red card against Lorient, another red card followed. The right half was hit by Thomas Mangani during a disturbance and reacted fiercely. After consultation with the VAR and checking the images, the arbitration decided to give both ruffs a red card. Disbelief was great at Hakimi, who had just returned from a suspension. PSG won 5-0 and can smell the French title: with three matches to go, pursuer Lens follows on six points. Ajaccio has been officially relegated due to the major defeat.