Troyes (AFP)

Paris SG succeeded in its return to Ligue 1 on Saturday with a success for the promoted Troyes (2-1) which does not eclipse the burning news of the club around the possible arrival of the superstar Lionel Messi.

Achraf Hakimi (19th) and Mauro Icardi (21st) struck in quick succession to allow PSG to take first place in the Championship at the end of the evening.

Revenge after a last exercise which crowned Lille, the club of the capital swore that it would not be taken back there anymore.

In front of its supporters, in a stadium without a gauge that recalled pre-Covid football, smoke included, Paris kept its promise.

Here it is launched, at the accounting level, pending the development of the system set up by coach Mauricio Pochettino, deprived in the Aube of many executives, including Neymar and Marco Verratti.

PSG were led by courageous Trojans (9th), and without several parades from Keylor Navas (28th, 35th, 90th, 90th + 1), the match could have escaped him.

This success allows "Poche" to keep calm around the preparation, waiting for the next few days which promise to be hot.

Because the departure of FC Barcelona from Messi, Thursday, put PSG, on pole to welcome him, at the center of a world soap opera.

Obviously, the absence in Troyes of President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and sports director Leonardo has fueled all the speculation around the negotiations in progress.

- Decisive Navas -

But, for those who dreamed a little too hard about the "Pulga", it took about ten minutes to return to a less dapper reality.

The opening of the Trojan score pointed out the mistakes of a private defense of his boss Marquinhos and rookie Sergio Ramos, injured in a calf.

Presnel Kimpembe, propelled captain, and Thilo Kehrer share the blame on the corner which led to the victorious header of Oualid El-Hajjam.

Renaud Ripart (28th, 35th) tried to drive home the point, but he found Navas, who released the stops he needed to reassure Parisians in break-in.

At the end of the match, the Costa Rican was again vigilant, against Florian Tardieu (90th) and Ripart (90th + 1), to gain points in the competition which opposes him to the Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma for the position of N .1 this season.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi hits on goal on the lawn of Troyes in Ligue 1 on August 7, 2021 François NASCIMBENI AFP

The lack of tactical benchmarks is no excuse for a team that has talent capable of pulling it out of any situation.

Paris had to win, as its coach Mauricio Pochettino repeats, and that's what he did, thanks to his individualities.

In his right lane, Hakimi was brilliant, justifying with each of his percussions the 60 million euros paid by his club to Inter Milan this summer.

- Mbappé not successful -

Well served by Ander Herrera, the Moroccan international equalized with a close-angle volley for his first goal in official competition with PSG.

Two minutes later, Icardi signed the 2-1 (21st), on an assist signed by Kylian Mbappé.

But of the stars present, "Kyky" was the least prominent.

Absent from the Champions Trophy in order to continue his physical preparation, the striker was not successful after a failed Euro with the Blues.

Kylian Mbappé with Paris SG in Troyes on August 7, 2021 for the first day of L1 François NASCIMBENI AFP

His best opportunity was deflected on the goal line by Jimmy Giraudon (24th).

He sent a nice shot from afar, a little too high (81st).

The Bondynois showed that he had lost none of his sense of dribbling (44th, 66th), but without his accomplice Neymar, good balls were rare.

For him, the rumors around his future will start again at the end of the match, especially as the expected arrival of Lionel Messi could shake things up.

© 2021 AFP