On his comeback match, Lionel Messi was subjected to jeers from the home crowd as Paris Saint-Germain made a significant stride towards clinching the Ligue 1 championship with a resounding 5-0 triumph over Ajaccio, consequently relegating the visitors.
Lionel Messi and PSG dominated proceedings in the first half with goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi, putting them in a comfortable position at the break. In the second half, Kylian Mbappe added to the scoreline with a brace, and Mohamed Youssouf’s own goal made matters worse for Ajaccio. A brawl resulted in the dismissals of Hakimi and Ajaccio midfielder Thomas Mangani.
The victory reestablished PSG’s lead at the top of the standings by six points. However, the triumph was tainted by the home fans’ reaction to Lionel Messi, who was reintegrated into the team after serving a suspension for traveling to Saudi Arabia without authorization. With only three games remaining, a victory at Auxerre on May 21 would virtually secure PSG’s second consecutive title.
In their previous four games at Parc des Princes, PSG had lost three, but in this match, they were in complete control right from the beginning. In the 21st minute, Fabian Ruiz received a through ball from Danilo and lifted it over Francois-Joseph Sollacaro to give PSG the lead.
The lead was doubled by Achraf Hakimi, who had the simplest of finishes after Ajaccio’s goalkeeper parried Kylian Mbappe’s shot into his path. There was a suspicion of handball by Mbappe, but the referee confirmed the goal after reviewing it on the pitchside monitor.
While Lionel Messi struggled, two minutes into the second half, Mbappe added his name to the scoresheet, sweeping the ball home from close range after a scramble in the Ajaccio penalty area. His second goal was a masterpiece as he volleyed a first-time effort past the helpless Sollacaro.
Lionel Messi and PSG was slicing through the visitors’ defense with ease, and Mohamed Youssouf inadvertently turned Marquinhos’ cross into his own net, making it 5-0. A scuffle between players from both sides resulted in the dismissals of Achraf Hakimi and Ajaccio’s Thomas Mangani.
Lionel Messi Jeered By PSG Fans
Lionel Messi was subjected to jeers from his own supporters, which was not the first time this season that the Argentina star has faced such hostility. However, the boos seemed louder and more prominent on this occasion. The lack of respect towards the World Cup winner did not go unnoticed by Messi, whose body language conveyed his disappointment. Despite playing his role in another impressive victory, he appeared rather subdued throughout the game.
The treatment of arguably the greatest player of all time will undoubtedly provoke a lot of discussion and debate. It seems rather strange, given that Lionel Messi has contributed immensely to PSG’s success this season, scoring 15 goals and providing 15 assists.