PSG 3-1 Nantes: 5 Talking points as Messi ends league goal drought in hard-fought win | Ligue 1 2021-22

Lionel Messi scored his first league goal for PSG in their 3-1 win over Nantes on Saturday.
Lionel Messi scored his first league goal for PSG in their 3-1 win over Nantes on Saturday.

PSG resumed their Ligue 1 campaign after the international break with yet another win, dispatching Nantes 3-1 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. It was far from a routine win for the hosts. But the highlight of the game was Lionel Messi's first league goal of the campaign, a trademark left-footed curler into the back of the net.

PSG got an early lead when Kylian Mbappe deflected Leandro Paredes' effort in the second minute. But Nantes did not let the early goal break their spirits. They were able to contain the fearsome trio of Mbappe, Messi and Neymar, with Alban Lafont making some smart saves in the first half.

While PSG dominated possession, their chances were limited from quick counter-attacks. Moreover, Nantes did not allow the home side too much space to operate in the final third.

The visitors came out strongly in the second half. They enjoyed the better share of chances, with Kalifa Coulibaly and Ludovic Blas coming close to pulling one back. They made very good use of their pace and width.

In the 65th minute, Ludovic Blas chased down a long ball with only Thilo Kehrer for company, but Keylor Navas came flying through way off his line. The challenge went awry, and the PSG custodian was shown the marching orders in an instant.

Mauricio Pochettino replaced Neymar to bring in Sergio Rico. That seemed to be the turning point in the game. Just 11 minutes later, Randal Kolo Muani beat Rico from close range with a backheel effort after a good initial save from the keeper.

With the game set for a dramatic finish, PSG got lucky as Dennis Appiah's sliding effort to intercept a pass led to an own goal. Three minutes from time, Messi sealed the fate of the game with a top-class finish from the edge of the box, with Mbappe picking up an assist.

It was business as usual for PSG, who maintain their pole position in the standings with another win. On that note, here's a look at the five talking points from the game.


#5 PSG kept Lafont busy, but scored just once in the first half

Kylian Mbappe bagged an assist and a goal against Nantes.
Kylian Mbappe bagged an assist and a goal against Nantes.

PSG were relentless in the first half. After getting on the scoresheet just 101 seconds after kick-off, they were hungry for more. They worked well, but failed to create too many clear-cut chances.

Messi seemed to be the focal point of everything in attack, accounting for six of the 14 shots Les Parisiens recorded in the game. While he was very active, Messi was not effective and lacked conviction.

Lafont deserves credit for dealing well with Messi's shots as he frustrated the hosts. While they did not regret missing these chances, against a more attacking side, the outcome of the game could've been very different.


#4 Keylor Navas' red card only impacted PSG briefly

Keylor Navas received a straight red card against Nantes for a reckless challenge.
Keylor Navas received a straight red card against Nantes for a reckless challenge.

Keylor Navas came off his line to deny Nantes a clear goal-scoring chance. He had to face the music, as he was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Blas. The numerical superiority for Nantes impacted PSG, who conceded just 11 minutes after Navas' dismissal.

Fortunately for them, they regrouped in the final quarter, scoring twice despite Neymar being taken off the field.

#3 PSG are still not operating at the desired level

PSG recorded their 12th Ligue 1 win of the season.
PSG recorded their 12th Ligue 1 win of the season.

PSG continued their winning ways against Nantes, but it was not a particularly convincing win for the Ligue 1 giants. They looked disjointed at times, and there was no rhythm between their defence and attack.

Paredes, Marco Verratti, and Idrissa Gueye did their job well. But they were invariably on the lookout for Messi or Mbappe, and did not display much creativity in the middle of the park. Nantes exposed the PSG defence quite often, and hosts' the defenders struggled to contain incoming crosses.

It was a win on the night, but PSG were not the unstoppable unit they should be, considering the players at their disposal.


#2 Messi and Mbappe starting to link up well

Messi and Mbappe combined for ten of PSG's 14 shots against Nantes.
Messi and Mbappe combined for ten of PSG's 14 shots against Nantes.

It is one thing to have three elite attackers in your starting lineup and a completely different thing for them to operate as single unit. With different attacking styles but the same desire to find the back of the net, Messi, Mbappe and Neymar have taken their time to get going.

With seven assists and as many goals, Mbappe has managed to deliver performances. Meanwhile, Neymar and Messi are yet to unleash their full potential.

Messi operated in a deeper role against Nantes, with most of his six shots coming from near the edge of the box. Mbappe had four shots, and he also picked up the assist for Messi's first league goal in French football.

It looks like the duo has begun to hit off. Their different styles of play might work wonders, complementing each other well.


#1 Lionel Messi scores his much-awaited first Ligue 1 goal

Messi forced an own goal before finally breaking his league drought for the campaign.
Messi forced an own goal before finally breaking his league drought for the campaign.

After drawing blanks in his first five games, Lionel Messi bagged his first league goal in a PSG shirt. It was a thing of beauty, and definitely worth the wait.

With PSG leading 2-1, they launched a quick counter-attack. With Mbappe having the ball at his feet, it took them no time to advance into the final third. He placed the ball into Messi's path. The Argentinian took a touch to open up some space before placing a perfectly weighted shot into the bottom-left corner of the Nantes net.

With that goal, he has now four goals for PSG, with three coming in the UEFA Champions League. He looked dangerous tonight, and had four shots on target, and an earlier attempt led to an own goal in the 81st minute.

Poll : With his goal drought in Ligue 1 broken, will Messi be on the scoresheet against Manchester City on Wednesday?

Yes

Seems unlikely

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Edited by Bhargav