Messi scores as PSG fight back to beat Toulouse

Story By: BBC Sports

A fine Lionel Messi strike earned Paris St-Germain a comeback win over Toulouse and moved them eight points clear in Ligue 1.

Mid-table Toulouse took a surprise lead in Paris, Branco van den Boomen scoring a free-kick after 20 minutes.

Achraf Hakimi drew PSG level before half-time, and after the break, Messi curled home expertly from 25 yards.

The win moves PSG on to 54 points from 22 games, eight ahead of second-placed Marseille.

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PSG were missing both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar because of injuries, and surprisingly fell behind to a set-piece by Dutch midfielder Van den Boomen.

Hakimi made it 1-1 with a curling effort, before Messi took centre stage just before the hour mark with a left-footed bending first-time strike low into the corner of the net.

It was Messi’s 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season and his 15th overall.

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Marseille, second in Ligue 1 play Nice on Sunday and then host the PSG in the Coupe de France last 16 next week.

Mbappe will miss that game and the Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayern Munich on 14 February after being ruled out for three weeks with a thigh injury suffered in the 3-1 win at Montpellier last Wednesday.

 

 

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