On the evidence of Sunday’s match at a packed Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, PSG is going to be a traveling circus this season. It really wasn’t any different before with Neymar in the spotlight, but there’s certainly a more partisan feel about it with away crowds not so much jeering Lionel Messi’s every touch as collectively willing more of them.
It’s not champagne football yet, but PSG’s perfect start to the season continued on Sunday with a 2-0 away win over Reims. Kylian Mbappé scored both the goals, highlighting how potentially devastating a move to Real Madrid would be at this moment, even following the arrival of Lionel Messi.
The 34-year-old made his PSG debut in the 66th minute, replacing Neymar on the Brazilian's first appearance of the season.
THIS IS IT!!! PURE HISTORY!
REIMS - Argentine forward Lionel Messi has been included in Paris Saint-Germain's squad for Sunday's Ligue 1 trip to Reims, the club said on Sunday.
The 34-year-old, who signed a two-year deal with PSG with an option for a third year after his contract with Barcelona expired, had yet to feature in the squad since joining on Aug. 10.
Messi has not played since winning the Copa América with Argentina against Brazil on July 10.
Real Madrid have increased their offer to sign Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappé to $211.48 million after having an initial $188 million bid rejected, French newspaper L'Equipe reported on Thursday.
ISTANBUL - Lionel Messi's new club Paris Saint-Germain will play Manchester City, managed by the Argentine's former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, after being drawn together in Champion's League Group A on Thursday.
Messi joined Qatar-owned PSG, who will also face Bundesliga side RB Leipzig and Belgium's Club Brugge, from Barcelona this month after the Spanish side were unable to afford a new contract.
"... Die Meister... Die Besten... Les grandes équipes... The champions..."
El hemisferio derecho de tu cerebro hoy seguramente anda todo estimulado con el himno de la Champions League. Todo porque hubo sorteo de la fase de grupos para la temporada 2021-22 y hay un par de series creadas para verlas con un paquete XL de palomitas de maíz.
La llegada de Lionel Messi al PSG fue como la caída de un meteorito en el planeta fútbol, sin embargo, puede que no sea el único evento cósmico en este mercado de pases.
There’s not long now until our new overlords are all assembled.
Paris Saint-Germain got its second straight victory to open the season on Saturday afternoon at the Parc des Princes, but the side was still without new signings Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma and the recovering Neymar and Ángel Di María.
But they were all in the building, and Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum, Donnarumma, Ramos and Messi were presented to the home support before the match. It was an unbelievable scene, and the reception for Messi . . . well, just watch.
PARIS — Lionel Messi watched on from the stands as Paris Saint-Germain made hard work of beating Strasbourg 4-2 in Ligue 1 on Saturday to continue their winning start to the new season.
Not yet fully fit, Messi, along with Neymar and fellow new recruits Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sergio Ramos, did not make the match squad, but saw his new club take an early lead through Mauro Icardi at Parc des Princes.
Lionel Messi is presented to the PSG fans
PARIS — The arrival of Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain has created a positive mood at the Ligue 1 club but he is unlikely to play any part in Saturday's home game against Strasbourg, coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
Speaking at Friday's news conference ahead of the league fixture after Messi joined PSG from Barcelona earlier this week, Pochettino added his first task was to make sure a star-studded outfit began to look the sum of its parts.