THE MATCH

Mbappé had scored nine times in his previous 11 league games against Montpellier, and when Christopher Jullien pulled Sergio Ramos' shirt as the pair tussled for a Messi free-kick, the France striker had the ideal opportunity to improve on that record with just six minutes on the clock. 

He had missed a penalty at 0-0 when PSG defeated Montpellier 5-2 earlier this season, and he saw Benjamin Lecomte, who also saved a penalty in the hosts' 2-0 win over Auxerre last weekend, stop his first effort from 12 yards only for VAR to order a retake for the goalkeeper moving early. Lecomte then pushed Mbappé's second spot-kick onto a post and watched as the PSG forward sidefooted the ball over the crossbar with the goal unguarded (10').

Things went from bad to worse as Mbappé limped off (20') after a tangle with Léo Leroy, the son of former PSG man Jérôme, and he was soon followed by Sergio Ramos (30') after clashing heads with Montpellier debutant Kiki Kouyaté.

Messi had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside (35') to cap a frustrating first-half for the visitors, who had won just two of their five games since the season restart and had seen Marseille close to within two points of them at kick-off with a 2-0 victory at Nantes earlier in the evening.

A more combative PSG emerged in the second half, and Achraf Hakimi's influence increased noticeably. The Morocco international had a goal ruled out — a fantastic long-range strike (52') — for offside in the build-up, but was at the heart of the long-awaited opening goal: having burst into the box, his shot was saved by Lecomte, but Hugo Ekitike — Mbappé's replacement — headed the ball into the path of Fabian Ruiz to prod home his first PSG goal (55').

A wonderful through ball from Messi to Ekitike saw the young striker rattle a post (62') before Ruiz did the same for Messi, who after taking a touch with his right, turned the ball beyond Lecomte with his favoured left to double the hosts' lead with his 14th goal of the season (72').

Messi curled a shot just wide (84') and then saw Lecomte save another effort (86') before Arnaud Nordin reduced PSG's advantage to one with a finely measured shot from the edge of the box (89'). 

The home fans sensed a comeback, but Warren Zaïre-Emery, who had replaced Vitinha on 70 minutes, put an end to that with the teenager — already PSG's youngest ever Ligue 1 debutant — becoming their youngest ever scorer at 16 years and 330 days in added time (90+2').

THE PLAYER: Lionel Messi

Neymar was absent at kick-off due to injury, Mbappé was sidelined early on, but Messi still functioned effectively with those around him. On another night and with Lecomte in lesser form, he would have had more goals, and some of his touches were a delight.

THE STAT: 8

PSG have won their last eight league games against Montpellier.

Lens saw their ten-game winning run at the Stade Félix Bollaert-Delelis come to an end and they finished the evening in third place — a point behind Marseille — after Gaëtan Laborde's second-half goal earned Nice a win in northern France. Former Nice man Amine Gouiri scored twice as Rennes defeated Strasbourg 3-0 to remain hot on the heels of fourth-placed Monaco, who were given a scare by Auxerre in a 3-2 home victory in the principality — Breel Embolo got the decisive goal eight minutes from time to leave Philippe Clement's side four points off the podium. Lyon's difficulties continued as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Brest.