PSG

Lionel Messi celebrated his return to Paris Saint-Germain with a goal in his first game back since lifting the World Cup.

[lost in the league ](http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/02/football/psg-lens-ligue-1-football-spt-intl/index.html)for the first time this season last week, 3-1 away to Lens. [Pelé](http://www.cnn.com/2022/12/29/football/brazil-pele-soccer-died-intl-latam-spt/index.html) before the match, joining his teammates in wearing a t-shirt with the Brazilian’s face on it during the warmup. [Lionel Messi](http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/football/lionel-messi-psg-return-world-cup-ronaldo-spt-intl/index.html) celebrated his return to Paris Saint-Germain with a goal in his first game back since lifting the [World Cup](https://cnn.com/2022/12/18/football/argentina-france-world-cup-final-qatar-2022-spt-intl/index.html). The 20-year-old forward has impressed when given the chance this season and opened the scoring with a sweeping finish in the first half. [greatest finals ever](https://cnn.com/2022/12/19/football/argentina-france-best-world-cup-final-spt-intl/index.html). But the forward didn’t look to be suffering any hangover as he returned to action with a goal from close range in PSG’s 2-0 win against Angers on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi was crucial in the build-up for the first goal and scored the second as PSG beat Angers to go six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

VAR, though, overturned the ruling, and Messi was awarded a goal on his return to club football after his heroics at Qatar 2022. Abdallah Sima had the best, blasting over from five yards out. PSG wasted little time taking the lead, carving through Angers with relative ease just five minutes in.

PARIS: Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday on his first appearance since leading Argentina to vic...

PSG’s unbeaten record this season had been ended in a 3-1 defeat away at Lens on New Year’s Day, but they bounced back to win 3-1 at third-tier Chateauroux in the French Cup at the weekend without any of their superstar attacking trio. “Messi has recovered well. Messi had been rested for PSG’s first three matches following the long break in the season caused by the World Cup but he returned to training in Paris a week ago and was back in the starting line-up for this game against Ligue 1’s bottom side.

All the fans at Parc des Princes stadium were holding their breath when the video assistant referee (VAR) checked the offside call.

He is relaxed and in great shape physically, and with Leo the team looks different." The wonder strike survived a VAR check and ultimately sealed an important Ligue 1 win. Messi was a constant threat in the early stages of the game and controlled proceedings with his trademark dribbling and intelligent passes. It was the perfect response after their But it was initially ruled out for offside before he and fans could properly celebrate. /CFP

Messi marked his return to club football with a goal, slotting home from close-range following a pinball passing move to put PSG 2-0 against Angers and six ...

There's no debate anymore." "Ice cold. [Lionel Messi](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/lionel-messi) long to wow fans on his [PSG](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/psg-fc) return last night - in fact he was dropping jaws before the game had even kicked off.

Lionel Messi scored on his return to club soccer after his FIFA 2022 World Cup win with Argentina as Paris Saint-Germain ran out 2-0 winners over Angers SCO ...

It was important for him to get back to action immediately and important for the team to get Leo back." A VAR check for offside ultimately proved unfounded and Messi was afforded his biggest cheer of the evening given that there was no fanfare for the returning champion in the capital of the beaten World Cup finalists' homeland. "He is in very good physical shape and he got an important goal for us. I think the whole team and the fans are all happy for him." Kylian Mbappe was missing as he returns to training after some deserved rest while Achraf Hakimi was suspended and Marco Verratti was nursing an injury. "He scored and we are all very happy for him.

Sadio Mane has been out since November, but Julian Nagelsmann says there is a chance he could face Paris Saint-Germain in March.

BERLIN: Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann said injured star forward Sadio Mane will “come back a bit earlier” and may figure in the Champions Le...

Six-time Champions League winners Bayern travel to Paris for the first leg clash on February 14, with the return fixture in Munich taking place on March 8. Mane has scored six goals and made three assists in the league since making the move from Liverpool to Bayern in the summer. BERLIN: Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann said injured star forward Sadio Mane will “come back a bit earlier” and may figure in the Champions League last 16 clash against Paris Saint Germain.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann is not expecting striker Sadio Mane to be fit for their Champions League first-leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain next ...

The timeline for Mane's return to action is thought to be in the region of 10-12 weeks. Following a successful operation to refix a tendon in the head of his right fibula, Mane was able to complete his first running session with reduced body weight at Bayern's performance centre on 10 January. Mane suffered the leg injury on 8 November in Bayern's penultimate Bundesliga fixture of 2022 against SV Werder Bremen, which led to him missing Senegal's 2022 World Cup campaign after further tests revealed surgery was required.

Paris: Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Angers in Ligue 1 on Wednesday on his first appearance since leading Argentina to victory ...

PSG's unbeaten record this season had been ended in a 3-1 defeat away at Lens on New Year's Day, but they bounced back to win 3-1 at third-tier Chateauroux in the French Cup at the weekend without any of their superstar attacking trio. "Messi has recovered well. The win, which came three and a half weeks after he captained Argentina to their World Cup final triumph on penalties against France in Qatar, saw PSG move six points clear at the top of the French table.

Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi have returned to Paris Saint-Germain training after an extended post-World Cup break.

The duo appeared to make the most of it, and were pictured [holidaying in New York for a week](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/psg-mbappe-hakimi-jet-to-new-york-watch-brooklyn-nets-after-shock-lens-defeat/bltcb2617c0fe173cf4). THE BIGGER PICTURE: With the return of Hakimi and Mbappe, Galtier now has a nearly fully fit squad at his disposal. PSG's official account tweeted a video of the two jogging onto the training pitch before joining their team-mates on Thursday.

Kylian Mbappe made his return to training with Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday after being given time off for a holiday in the wake of his World Cup exertions, ...

Mbappe scored a hat-trick as France lost the final on penalties to Argentina. Both were involved until the last weekend of the World Cup. Kylian Mbappe made his return to training with Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday after being given time off for a holiday in the wake of his World Cup exertions, the French champions announced.

Both Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi returned to Paris Saint-Germain training after a week's holiday.

Both Mbappe and Hakimi will be available for the clash against Rennais. [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.besoccer.com/player/k-mbappe-lottin-234474) was in the stands at the Parc des Princes for the match against Angers, which ended in a 2-0 win for the home side. [Achraf Hakimi](https://www.besoccer.com/player/a-hakimi-283900), who were enjoying their week's holiday in the United States.

The striker and the right-back spent their days away in New York, where they attended an NBA game between the Brooklyn Nets and the San Antonio Spurs, and in ...

Both Mbappé and Hakimi are expected to feature at the Roazhon Park this Sunday evening for PSG as they travel away at Stade Rennais for matchday 19 of the Ligue 1 season. The PSG duo were given a week’s rest at the start of the new year, following their return from the World Cup. The holidays are now over for Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi.

It was an unremarkable performance overall from PSG but Lionel Messi eventually helped them to a routine win against Ligue 1's bottom side.

Lionel Messi made his long awaited return to club action after victory at the 2022 World Cup by scoring in PSG's second goal in a 2-0 win over Ligue 1 ...

Interestingly, however, Angers are thought to be a good bet to score themselves, as the PSG defensive unit struggles with injuries. He was not included in the matchday squad and will be given time to recover ahead of a match of much higher importance on Sunday against Stade Rennes. Nordi Mukiele down the right flank gets free vertically, and he delivers a low cross right to the feet of Hugo Ekitike. PSG hardly had a sniff of the attacking third, and in one of their first forays into the penalty area, they profit. Messi and Neymar stand over it, and after the official sorts out a mess in the scrum, it's Neymar who takes... Bernardoni is up to the task, going full stretch up and to his left to get his fingertips on the ball. The effort is just the fifth shot for PSG in the match, and there are some whistles from the PSG fans as they want to see more from their star-studded side. Neymar's free-kick delivery was sensational, right onto the head of Sergio Ramos, but the Spaniard's effort is right at the Angers goalkeeper, and he makes a wonderful reactionary save at point-blank range. 35th min: Lionel Messi is hacked to the ground by Batista Mendy, and it earns a dangerous free-kick from about 23 yards out. VAR has a look, and while Mukiele is onside on the initial ball, Messi is clearly off by just a hair (er, knee) on the return ball. Messi loops one vertically to Neymar breaking the defensive line, and the Brazilian produces a stunning bit of skill to turn 360 degrees and rifle it into the net on the volley. A wonderful buildup sees Nordi Mukiele played in by Messi, and then the Argentine gets the ball back on a wonderful one-two to get free.