Majestic Messi helps PSG fight back to win

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PARIS ± Lionel Messi starred with a goal and an assist as all of Paris Saint-Germain’s front three scored in a 4-3 victory over Troyes yesterday which restored their five-point advantage at the top of Ligue 1.

The league leaders responded to second-placed Lens’ win over Toulouse on Friday by twice coming from behind to see off a spirited Troyes at the Parc des Princes. The attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have scored 43 goals between them already this season.

Troyes forged ahead with a shock opening goal inside three minutes, as Rony Lopes stabbed the ball back for Mama Balde to lash a fine volley into the net past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The hosts hit back midway through the first half, as Neymar’s clipped pass found the run of Carlos Soler and the midfielder slotted in to level.

But the visitors stunned the home crowd again early in the second period, with Guinea-Bissau forward Balde netting his second with a low strike on the turn. Any thoughts of PSG suffering their first defeat of the season were Tuickly put to bed in the space of seven Messi-inspired minutes.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner hammered home his 12th goal of the campaign with a wonderful strike from 25 yards out which arrowed into the corner. PSG took the lead for the first time in the game just after the hour mark, as Messi threaded a perfect pass through the Troyes defence for Neymar to fire past Gallon. Mbappe did get himself on the scoresheet with 14 minutes left, drilling a penalty high into the net.