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After a protracted wait — 19 days after his signing was introduced — Lionel Messi made his official debut for Paris Saint-Germain. He entered within the 66th minute of a Ligue 1 street match at Stade de Reims with the consequence already in hand in a 2-0 victory. It was PSG’s fourth straight win to start out the league season.
Messi got here into the match rather than his buddy and fellow attacker Neymar, who was additionally making his season debut. The Argentine’s 24 minutes on the sector weren’t outstanding exterior of two tried connections with goal-scoring hero Kylian Mbappe, who netted each objectives. By the point Messi got here in, the match had misplaced any actual rhythm on both aspect with six subs, two yellow playing cards and lots of bodily play dominating the closing levels of the match.
Listed below are Messi’s stats for his first match in PSG colours, courtesy of SofaScore. He did not see a lot of the ball and when he did, he did not attempt to do something outrageous. A complete of 11 of his 21 go makes an attempt got here within the attacking half of the sector:
- Minutes: 24
- Objectives/Assists: 0
- Touches: 26
- Key passes: 0
- Dribble makes an attempt: 0
- Photographs / Photographs on objective: 0
- Crosses: 0
- Fouls suffered: 3
- Possessions misplaced: 2
- Passing accuracy: 95% (made 20 of 21 tried passes)
The map under reveals the place Messi’s touches got here on the sector:
The Argentine was included in PSG’s matchday squad for the primary time since signing for the membership on Aug. 10 and his coach, Argentine compatriot Mauricio Pochettino, confirmed previous to the match that the soccer legend would play within the recreation. He began on the bench, sporting the No. 30 jersey.
Followers around the globe have been desperate to see Messi in a brand new jersey after he spent 21 seasons with FC Barcelona in Spain. He grew to become a free agent on June 30 and signed a two-year cope with PSG with an choice for a 3rd.
His subsequent match for PSG will come after the September worldwide break on Sunday, Sept. 12 when PSG hosts Clermont Foot in Matchday 5 of the Ligue 1 season. Messi is predicted to characteristic for Argentina in three World Cup qualifiers that will probably be performed firstly of the month.
PSG vs. Stade de Reims remaining rating
| 1H | 2H | Ultimate | |
| Stade de Reims | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PSG | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Objectives:
PSG — Kylian Mbappe (Angel Di Maria) — fifteenth min.
PSG — Kylian Mbappe (Achraf Hakimi) — 63rd min.
Ultimate: Stade de Reims 0, PSG 2
Ultimate: Not the perfect efficiency from PSG, however they will take the win, their fourth in a row to start out the season, as they head into the worldwide break. The truth that they bought Messi and Neymar their first minutes was a bonus. If Kylian Mbappe performed his final recreation for the membership, two objectives and a man-of-the-match efficiency is an effective strategy to exit. He performed the complete 90 minutes and hasn’t let up one bit for the reason that reviews of Actual Madrid provides began coming by way of.
ninetieth min.: Mbappe tries to search out Messi within the field once more, however the ball does not get to him. He is actually looking for his new teammate. Six minutes of stoppage time.
88th min.: Groups exchanging yellows, however not many scoring possibilities. Now it is PSG’s Leandro Paredes who will get the warning for a tough foul.
84th min.: Stade de Reims’ Hugo Ekitike goes within the ref’s e-book for a tough foul on Mbappe. Stade continues to be urgent. PSG appear blissful to play on the counterattack and see out the match with the two-goal lead.
81st min.: SUB – PSG’s Julian Draxler is available in for Angel Di Maria.
78th min.: Messi feeds Mbappe down the correct aspect of the field on a driving run and Mbappe tries the return go, nevertheless it’s blocked by Reims.
seventy fifth min.: SUBS – After two straight nook kicks for the house workforce, two subs come on for PSG — Paredes and Kimpembe come on — and one for Stade de Reims (Flips on for Kebbal).
72nd min.: Messi is taking part in on the correct aspect of the assault, with compatriot Di Maria large left and Mbappe nonetheless at heart ahead.
71st min.: SUB – Dutch ahead Mitchell Van Bergen comes on for Dion Lopy.
66th min.: SUBS – And now Messi’s lastly coming into the match. He enters for Neymar to chants of “Messi” from the group. Ander Herrera additionally comes on for Wijnaldum.
63rd min.: GOAL PSG! It is Mbappe once more! Improbable counterattack from PSG with Hakimi storming down the correct and feeding Mbappe on the far submit for the simple tap-in.
62nd min.: PSG goalkeeper Navas wants two stabs to cease a shot from Reims.
58th min.: Messi’s warming up on the sideline. We’ll see how lengthy earlier than he comes on.
fifty fifth min.: One other yellow card for PSG. This time it is left again Abdou Diallo with a harmful foul in midfield and he goes within the e-book.
51st min.: Aim for Stade de Reims! A cross from the correct is headed on objective by El Bilal Toure, Keylor Navas cannot maintain on and Stade’s Marshall Munetsi knocks dwelling the rebound. However the VAR scratched this one for offside. Navas and PSG are saved by video assessment.
forty sixth min.: No Messi to start out the second half. However Stade de Reims deliver on Bradley Locko and Valon Berisha as halftime subs.
Halftime: Stade de Reims 0, PSG 1
Halftime: It was an OK first half from PSG. Kylian Mbappe, who’s nonetheless the topic of an lively switch bid from Actual Madrid, was the difference-maker as soon as once more for his workforce. He seemed like essentially the most harmful participant on the sector for PSG. Exterior of the objective, it was a toothless show from PSG and Stade de Reims are very a lot nonetheless in it. All eyes on Mauricio Pochettino and when he’ll determine to deliver on Messi.
forty fourth min.: And now PSG midfielder Marco Verratti will get a yellow card for a foul from behind on Kebbal. Not the way in which PSG and Pochettino wish to shut out this half. It is the second straight recreation with a yellow card for the caution-prone Verratti:
forty first min.: The house workforce with one other likelihood! Moreto Cassama with a shot that nicks the highest left nook of PSG’s objective. PSG aren’t attacking with sufficient urgency and appear virtually content material to maintain possession. Stade de Reims is exhibiting that it could make them pay.
thirty ninth min.: Shot on objective for Stade de Reims! Ilan Kebbal fires a shot from the left nook of the realm and Navas dives and holds on. It was a cross that became a shot. Take a look at the transfer that Kebbal placed on Achraf Hakimi.
thirty eighth min.: Uncommon assault for Stade de Reims and the correct wingback Thomas Foket cannot win the nook kick and the assault is wasted.
thirty second min.: Di Maria free kick foiled by the wall. It has been some time since Stade de Reims has troubled Keylor Navas.
twenty sixth min.: This match has now settled into a transparent sample: PSG controlling proceedings and Stade de Reims trying to intercept and launch the counter.
twentieth min.: That objective was the second header objective by Mbappe within the new season. He apparently by no means had one earlier than the beginning of 2021-2022 Ligue 1.
fifteenth min.: Aim PSG! Di Maria with the implausible cross from the correct aspect and Mbappe heads it dwelling. Mbappe, taking part in at heart ahead in the present day, made an awesome run within the field. Di Maria can do something with that left foot.
14th min.: Messi within the PSG masks on the bench:
thirteenth min.: Marquinhos with an enormous sliding block on a shot within the field by El Bilal Toure, however that Stade de Reims try was additionally dominated offside.
tenth min.: First large likelihood for PSG on the ft of Kylian Mbappe. He will get the ball, turns within the field and pokes the ball at objective, nevertheless it’s simply large.
eighth min.: Stade de Reims appears to be like harmful with PSG preserving a excessive line. Within the newest occasion, Reims ahead El Bilal Toure is caught offside. It’s the third offside name in opposition to Reims.
1st min.: We’re off. And it’s an offside name on the kickoff in opposition to PSG. That’s uncommon.
2:47 p.m.: And right here’s that stroll out of the tunnel for Messi:
2:46 p.m.: A take a look at Messi within the tunnel popping out together with his workforce:
2:32 p.m.: The followers in Reims are getting a deal with:
1:36 p.m.: Mauricio Pochettino confirms pregame that Messi will probably be getting taking part in time within the match:
12:46 p.m.: Messi’s place within the locker? Proper subsequent to his finest bud Neymar:
PSG vs. Stade de Reims lineups
Even with out Lionel Messi within the beginning lineup, PSG’s entrance line is horrifying: Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria. Two of the 5 new acquisitions within the offseason may also begin: proper again Achraf Hakimi and central midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
PSG
Beginning lineup (4-3-3, left to proper): 1-Keylor Navas — 22-Abdou Diallo, 5-Marquinhos, 24-Thilo Kehrer, 2-Achraf Hakimi — 6-Marco Verratti, 27-Idrissa Gueye, 18-Georginio Wijnaldum — 10-Neymar, 7-Kylian Mbappe, 11-Angel Di Maria
Obtainable Subs: 50-Gianluigi Donnarumma-GK, 3-Presnel Kimpembe, 8-Leandro Paredes, 15-Danilo Pereira, 36-Junior Dina Ebimbe, 23-Julian Draxler, 21-Ander Herrera, 29-Arnaud Kalimuendo, 30-Lionel Messi
Stade Reims
Beginning lineup (3-4-3, left to proper): 1-Predrag Rajkovic-GK — 5-Yunis Abdelhamid, 2-Wout Faes, 6-Andrew Gravillon — 26-Dion Lopy, 23-Moreto Cassama, 15-Marshall Munetsi, 32-Thomas Foket — 11-Nathanael Mbuku, 27-El Bilal Toure, 20-Ilan Kebbal
Obtainable Subs: 16-Yehvann Diouf-GK, 3-Ghislain Konan, 13-Fode Doucoure, 28-Bradley Locko, 24-Mathieu Cafaro, 14-Valon Berisha, 12-Alexis Flips, 22-Hugo Ekitike, 19-Mitchell Van Bergen
The way to watch Messi, PSG
Ligue 1 matches in the course of the 2021-2022 season can be found on beIN Sports activities, which may be streamed on fuboTV within the USA and Canada:
Ligue 1
- TV Channels: beIN Sports activities, beIN Sports activities en Espanol, beIN Sportr Xtra (obtainable on fuboTV , cable, satellite tv for pc, Sling, Fanatiz)
- Streaming: beIN Sports activities Xtra (on fuboTV , Roku, Sling, Fanatiz and Pluto TV) & beIN Sports activities Join app (for authenticated subscribers)
BeIN Sports activities, beIN Sports activities en Espanol and beIN Sports activities Xtra are streaming on fuboTV (free 7-day trial) .
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