After their first defeat of the season in Ligue 1’s top match, Paris Saint-Germain are longing for the return of world champion Lionel Messi.
“On the 3rd, so in 48 hours,” announced PSG coach Christophe Galtier after the champion’s 1: 3 against pursuer RC Lens: “He’s a key player for us.” Galtier had given the 35-year-old Argentine a few more days off after his triumph in Qatar with the Albiceleste.
Neymar is also missing
Without Messi, but also without Neymar, who was not cleared to play due to an unnecessary yellow-red card in the miserable 2-1 win against Racing Strasbourg, the lead in the table over Lens has been reduced to four points. “The victory does not reveal any miracle, it is only logic,” commented the French sports daily “L’Équipe” on Monday.
Remaining Storm superstar Kylian Mbappé had a frustrating night and only caught a few passes. PSG’s only goal was scored by Hugo Ekitike in the eighth minute to make it 1-1. Former world champion Mbappé went away empty handed. He made an effort, but he also had little space, Galtier said.
All of which resulted in Bayern Munich’s first Champions League round of 16 defeat this season. Most recently, PSG lost in the national championship on March 20 last year at AS Monaco (0:3). The defeat revealed the defense’s weaknesses, according to “Le Monde”. “It’s not so much the defeat that disappoints or upsets me, it’s the way we conceded,” said Galtier.
His colleague Franck Haise particularly appreciated the not only prestigious victory against PSG – it was his 100th match as Lens manager. The 51-year-old took the opportunity to personally sing the celebratory song with fans after the match.
