REIMS — Lionel Messi made his much-anticipated Ligue 1 debut for Paris St.-Germain (PSG) on Sunday but it was Kylian Mbappé who shone as the capital club maintained its perfect start to the season with a 2-0 victory at Stade de Reims.
Mbappe gave PSG a taste of what it would be missing if he left for Real Madrid, who has made bids to recruit the France striker since Messi joined on a two-year deal from Barcelona.
The win means PSG tops the table with a maximum 12 points.
All 20,545 tickets available were sold at the Auguste Delaune stadium to see 34-year-old Messi play and the fans, who chanted the Argentina forward’s name, were rewarded in the 66th minute when he replaced the disappointing Neymar.
Mbappé did not disappoint though in a brilliant performance, seemingly unfazed by the transfer frenzy surrounding him.
Two days before the end of the window, the 22-year-old made the difference with his speed and sense of timing, opening the scoring with a header and rounding off with a clinical finish.
After a stuttering start, PSG got into its groove and Mbappe put it ahead after 15 minutes by heading home from Angel Di Maria’s cross.
But PSG got too comfortable and Reims started to apply some pressure, with Moreto Cassama’s superb strike hitting Keylor Navas’s crossbar three minutes before the break.
Reims celebrated what they thought was a Marshall Munetsi equalizer five minutes into the second half, only for the Zimbabwean’s effort to be ruled out for offside.
MESSI WELCOMED
Messi started to warm up after 57 minutes, drawing applause from the Reims supporters, whom he saluted.
They sang his name just when he was about to come on, shortly after Mbappé had doubled PSG’s advantage from Achraf Hakimi’s cross at the end of a sharp counter attack.
Mbappé combined with Messi, but the former Barcelona striker was not in the same condition as the Frenchman, having not played a competitive game since winning the Copa America with Argentina on July 10.
“It was important that he (Messi) started with a win,” PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino told a news conference.
“He brings serenity to the team. His energy and his optimism trickle down on the rest of the team.”
Reims defender Andrew Gravillon crossed Messi’s path before and after the game.
“He’s impressive. Last year, we were watching him play the Champions League, now it’s a pleasure to have him in our league and it’s also a pleasure to challenge him,” he said.
“I went to see him to get his shirt for my little brother, but he didn’t give it to me. Maybe next time, I’ll get lucky.” — Reuters
