PSG 5-0 Ajaccio: Paris Saint-Germain won with large numbers against Ajaccio on Saturday evening at the return of Lionel Messi. The leader in Ligue 1 did not have to make an excessive effort to put the Corsicans over the knee and send them back to Ligue 2.
Messi’s return ends in a big victory for PSG
At PSG, Messi returned to the starting line after his suspension was lifted suspension. In Parc des Princes, where the hard core of the Parisians was missing due to a boycott, the Argentinian was whistled by part of the supporters when he touched the ball. Messi joined Ajaccio in the home game with Kylian Mbappé and Hugo Ekitike in the attack.
The trio could hardly create any danger for the guests’ goal in the first twenty minutes. Still, it was 1-0 for PSG after 22 minutes. Danilo Pereira sent Fabian Ruiz off with a through ball and the Spaniard hit with the outside of his foot. Ten minutes later, Achraf Hakimi increased the lead. Ajaccio keeper François-Joseph Sollacaro was able to reverse a bet by Mbappé, but Hakimi hit the rebound.
Second half
Immediately after the break, Mbappé made his first of the evening. The Ligue 1 top scorer received the ball from Ekitike and saw his effort roll over the goal line through Sollacaro’s arms. His second goal, after 54 minutes, was more spectacular: after a deep pass from Sergio Ramos, the ball ended up via the head of Ajaccio defender Cedric Avinel at Mbappé, after which he shot in the 4-0 with a great volley.
Achraf Hakimi and Thomas Mangani sending off
After PSG had come to 5-0 via an own goal from Mohamed Youssouf, tempers were still high in the final phase after a foul on Messi. Both Hakimi and Ajaccio defender Thomas Mangani received a red card for a striking movement. PSG maintains a six-point lead over RC Lens with three games to go with the big win. Ajaccio has been relegated to Ligue 2 due to the big defeat in Paris.
The result means that PSG remains in first place. PSG’s next game is against Auxerre at the Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps on Sunday, May 21. Ajaccio will play at home against Rennes at Stade François Coty on the same day.
