Staff Reporter.
Lionel Messi scored only his second Ligue 1 goal as Paris St-Germain thrashed defending champions Lille 5-1 to consolidate the lead at the top.
PSG led when Ivo Grbic dropped a cross and Danilo Pereira pounced but Lille levelled through Sven Botman’s half-volley from Hatem Ben Arfa’s cross.
Presnel Kimpembe scored from close range and Messi latched onto a loose ball before clipping a shot over Grbic.
Danilo drove in his second and Kylian Mbappe curled in a beautiful fifth.
It was an ideal response for Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG after their French Cup defeat on penalties against Nice during the week.
Barcelona legend Messi, 34, has now scored two league goals in 13 appearances for PSG – having netted against Nantes in November – and bagged five in five in the Champions League.
The Argentine has scored a competitive goal every year since 2005.
It was a positive response from PSG following their Coupe de France exit on Monday at the hands of Nice, and they now have a 13-point lead over Marseille in the title race after 23 matches.