Lyon 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain: Early Messi strike sends PSG back to Ligue 1 summit

Lionel Messi fired Paris Saint-Germain back to the Ligue 1 summit as his early goal secured a 1-0 win over Lyon.

Despite PSG dominating possession for long stretches at Groupama Stadium, Christophe Galtier’s side had to fend off a determined Lyon in the second half to take maximum points.

PSG’s win means they leapfrog Marseille at the top of the table after extending their winning streak to six matches across all competitions.

Defeat for Lyon ended their run of eight straight league victories on home soil – the longest span in the big five European leagues.

5 – Lionel Messi and Neymar have given each other five assists in Ligue 1 this season, more than any other duo. Bromance. #OLPSG pic.twitter.com/vfKkC1rkwd

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 18, 2022

PSG took the lead after just five minutes, as Messi swept a first-time shot past Anthony Lopes following a neat one-two with Neymar.

Messi was then denied from a tight angle as the visitors dominated the opening 20 minutes, while Lopes blocked Kylian Mbappe’s 20-yard effort.

Lyon responded well and squandered a glorious opportunity to equalise when Alexandre Lacazette headed wide from six yards.

Home captain Lacazette and Karl Toko Ekambi shot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma as Lyon continued to threaten, while the latter also sent a 25-yard drive whistling narrowly wide of the left post.

PSG almost doubled their lead within a minute of the second half starting, as Castello Lukeba headed Messi’s goal-bound shot off the line.

It then took magnificent reflexes from Lopes to prevent Neymar and Messi from increasing the lead, while Thiago Mendes’ brilliant last-ditch intervention also thwarted Neymar.

The visitors survived a scare when Marquinhos blocked Moussa Dembele’s goalbound header, before Messi was denied a late second as Lopes saved brilliantly from his free-kick. Sergio Ramos was denied by the offside flag when he tucked in the loose ball.