Lionel Messi travels back to Barcelona after stunning stoppage-time free-kick sees Christophe Galtier grant PSG squad two days off
- Argentine secured 4-3 victory over Lille
- Netted the most dramatic of winners
- Back in Spain for first time since World Cup
WHAT HAPPENED? The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner took in a relatively quiet Sunday afternoon at Parc des Princes until being asked to deliver a moment of match-altering brilliance in the dying seconds. Messi has always been a man for the big occasion and curled a dramatic 95th-minute effort in off the post to secure PSG a thrilling 4-3 victory over Lille and a well-earned break that has been granted by relieved coach Christophe Galtier.
✈️ LEO MESSI EN BARCELONA
🎥Pisa la ciudad condal por primera vez tras ganar el Mundial de Qatar
🛬Leo vuelve a la que nunca ha dejado de ser su casa. Es LA IMAGEN
🇫🇷El PSG no juega hasta el domingo en Marsella
📻 @tjcope @COPE @ESPORTSCOPE @partidazocope pic.twitter.com/ZDl8ytyyyF
— Víctor Navarro (@victor_nahe) February 19, 2023
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Messi has, with training in the French capital not due to resume until Wednesday, taken the opportunity to head back to his spiritual home in Barcelona after being given a couple of days off – with this the first time that the mercurial 35-year-old has been on Spanish soil since he helped Argentina to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022.
WHAT NEXT? Messi delivered for PSG in a meeting with Lille that also saw Kylian Mbappe bag a brace and Neymar pick up an unfortunate injury that led to him leaving the field on a stretcher, with the reigning Ligue 1 champions due to be back in action next Sunday when taking in a trip to old adversaries Marseille.
