Why Lionel Messi was hauled off at half-time in PSG’s win over Lille
An explanation for the early departure of Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain’s meeting with Lille tonight has been provided.
Di Maria makes the difference
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were of course back in action a short time ago.
On the back of a rare slip-up last time out, which saw them drop points for just the 2nd time in Ligue 1 this season, PSG welcomed champions Lille to the Parc des Princes, eyeing a return to winning ways.
Upon Jonathan David handing the visitors a deserved lead on the half-hour mark, however, such hopes looked in very real danger.
After some fine work down the left on the part of Burak Yilmaz, David made no mistake in slotting into the roof of the net from close range, continuing a hugely impressive opening to the campaign in the process:
How easy did Lille make this look?
Jonathan David completes a glorious move as the visitors carve PSG wide open! 👏 pic.twitter.com/eP5GEH4cdf
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 29, 2021
PSG, though, eventually sprung into life.
Fifteen minutes from time, a clever exchange between Neymar and Angel Di Maria down the hosts’ left culminated in the latter’s dinked delivery being slotted home by captain Marquinhos:
Captain fantastique! 💙
An exquisite lofted pass from Angel Di Maria and PSG skipper Marquinhos dispatches!
Look at what it means to him! pic.twitter.com/k8APnOLuwS
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 29, 2021
Then, with just minutes remaining, the game’s telling moment was forthcoming.
This time Di Maria turned goalscorer, again latching onto a perfect layoff from partner in crime Neymar before picking out the far corner in style:
Step up, Angel Di Maria! 🌟
The Argentine has been the standout performer for PSG, but just look at Neymar’s assist 🤤 pic.twitter.com/ul7AsODCyw
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 29, 2021
Messi latest
Amid an otherwise positive night’s work for PSG on Friday, however, one source of concern remained, in the form of Lionel Messi.
Argentine superstar Messi is yet to get off the mark in Ligue 1 since making the move to Paris during the summer, and majorly struggled in his efforts to open his account against Lille.
In turn, upon the 34-year-old being hooked at the interval at the Parc des Princes, suggestions quickly spread that he had simply been punished by Mauricio Pochettino for an underwhelming display.
As since confirmed by a host of sources online, however, Messi was in fact hauled off prematurely due to a fitness problem.
The veteran attacker was viewed as a major doubt to feature at all this evening, having been forced to sit out training over the last couple of days. In turn, after feeling fresh discomfort throughout the opening 45 minutes against Lille, he was given the 2nd-half off to recover, ahead of PSG’s midweek Champions League commitments.
#Messi solo aguantó 45′ . Las molestias que sintió en el entrenamiento del jueves, siguieron hoy en el partido y por eso decidieron sacarlo por precaución, pensando en el duelo del miércoles de #ChampionsLeague . En su lugar ingresó #Icardi, quien regresa después de su ausencia. pic.twitter.com/UhaUHYmvZw
— Hernán Claus (@hernanclaus) October 29, 2021
Messi se quedó en el banquillo en la segunda mitad del partido ante el Lille (reemplazado por Icardi) por molestias que ha sentido desde ayer que no pudo entrenar y que le hizo ser duda hoy. Fue titular, se probó en el partido pero sigue con molestias
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) October 29, 2021
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