Staff Reporter.
Lionel Messi scored his first Paris St-Germain goal in stunning fashion as they beat Manchester City in an enthralling Champions League group game.
Messi, making his fourth appearance for PSG since leaving Barcelona, ran from the halfway line before playing a one-two with Kylian Mbappe and leaving Ederson rooted to the spot with a lovely 20-yard shot.
The roar from the Parc des Princes crowd was deafening as the Argentine, on his return from injury, added one PSG goal to the 672 he managed for Barca.
Idrissa Gueye had given last season’s French runners-up an early lead with an excellent drive into the top corner.
City had plenty of chances to score in between those goals with Raheem Sterling’s header hitting the bar and Bernardo Silva striking the woodwork from the rebound with an empty net in front of him.
They also had seven shots on target but could not beat Champions League debutant Gianluigi Donnarumma in PSG’s goal.
The first three games of Messi’s spell at PSG – which has been interrupted by injury and fitness issues – had failed to set the world alight. No goals and no assists.
But this was the night that all changed as he soared forward, gave the ball to Mbappe and got it back with a backheel before bamboozling Ederson with his shot.
The build-up to this match had all been about whether he would return form a knee injury which had kept him out for a couple of games. There was a huge cheer from the fans before the game as his name was read out in the starting XI.
He was involved earlier in the move for the opening goal too, finding Mbappe outside the box.
Mbappe’s pass was air-kicked by Neymar, with Gueye then scoring a beauty.
Messi’s only shot was the goal – but on a night when City made PSG work hard, the veteran did his fair share too.
Almost a third of his touches were in his own half, including when he tackled Riyad Mahrez just outside the box.
Even at the end, he performed the draught excluder role in the wall for a Kevin de Bruyne free-kick – a position almost invented to defend his own free-kicks.
PSG – who have won all their Ligue 1 games to date – are a different team than the one who lost both legs to City in last year’s semi-final.
Gueye and Marco Verratti, back from four games out injured, were excellent in central midfield – and the team defended well too to keep City out.
Donnarumma, in goal, made seven saves as well as four claims or punches. Ederson in the other goal only made one save.
Meanwhile Sheriff Tiraspol produced one of the great Champions League shocks as the competition’s least experienced club upstaged 13-time European champions Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Sebastien Thill snatched victory for the tournament debutants with a stunning final-minute strike.
Jasurbek Yakhshiboev’s first-half header had given the visitors the lead.
Karim Benzema equalised from the penalty spot after relentless Real pressure, but Thill had the last word.
Elsewhere Liverpool inflicted another heavy defeat on Porto to remain top of their Champions League group.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were superb throughout as they maintained their 100% start in the competition.
Mohamed Salah’s prodded finish set them on their way at the Estadio do Dragao, which once again proved a happy hunting ground.
⏰ RESULTS ⏰
? Sheriff stun Madrid, Messi inspires Paris, Liverpool win in style…
? Performance of the night?#UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 28, 2021
And with memories of 4-1 and 5-0 victories in recent campaigns fresh in the mind they delivered a performance brimming with pace, precision and energy.