Lionel Messi finally made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night, but it was Kylain Mbappe who stole the show for the Ligue 1 leaders.
Ligue 1
Result: Reims 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Date: 29 August 2021
Venue: Stade Auguste-Delaune
Messi started from the bench while Mbappe remained in the line-up despite transfer speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid. Meanwhile, former Orlando Pirates defender Marshall Munetsi started for Reims.
Reims were competitive in the early exchanges but they could not do anything to stop Mbappe from giving the Parisians the lead in the 15th minute with a powerful header inside the box into the top corner from Di Maria's cross.
Pochettino's charges had their tails up after that and were threatening to get the second goal, especially through crosses inside the box but Marquinhos was not accurate enough.
Moreto Cassama came close to snatching the equaliser just before the half-time break with strike from the edge of the box that had goalkeeper Keylor Navas scrambling but hit the outside of the post.
Reims thought they had a perfect start in the second stanza after Munetsi bundled home a rebound on the goal-line from Navas' save six minutes inside the second stanza but the goal was disallowed for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
PSG went on to double their lead soon after as Mbappe completed his brace in the 63rd minute with a tap-in at the back post after a square pass by Achraf Hakimi.
Pochettino made a double change three minutes later, as he finally brought on Messi for his debut in place of Neymar while Ander Herrera replaced Georginio Wijnaldum.
Messi and Mbappe nearly combined for PSG's third goal in the last 13 minutes after the Barcelona legend won possession high up the pitch and laid a ball to the French forward but Mbappe did not have a shot at goal, looking tee up Messi but the move was cut out.
Reims did not drop their heads with the game stretching in the closing minutes, but the hosts lacked the quality in the last third to hurt PSG, who held on to their fourth straight win and cemented top spot.
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