Messi's PSG winter champion

And the Parc des Princes was able to acclaim Messi... Crowned world champion in mid-December with Argentina at the expense of Kylian Mbappé's France, the seven-time Ballon d'Or was warmly welcomed by the Parisian public for his return to the competition on Wednesday evening during the 18th day of L1.

And despite a long match to settle, the party was complete as PSG tamed the red lantern on goals from Hugo Ekitike (5th) and Messi (72nd), offering themselves the satisfaction of taking the lead in mid -championship.

The Parisians have 47 points, six more than Lens (41 pts), executioner of PSG on January 1 (3-1) but who can no longer join the capital club on the final day of the first leg this weekend. -end.

"I am satisfied that we are back to winning ways, satisfied with the behavior of the team", savored the Parisian coach

Christophe Galtier at the microphone of Canal+ Sport 360. "The players did their job, it's a good match and a good evening."

Angers midfielder Pierrick Capelle tries to intervene between Hugo Ekitike (g) and Juan Bernat of PSG in Ligue 1 on January 11, 2023 at the Parc des Princes © Bertrand GUAY / AFP

What to tackle with appetite the clash against Rennes on Sunday, where the Galtier team should be able to recover Mbappé, rested after a few days off.

Lens stumbles, electroshocks in Strasbourg and Nice

The Mathieu Le Scornet effect!

Just appointed coach of Strasbourg, the former assistant of Julien Stéphan allowed the Alsatians to obtain a deserved draw against Lens (2-2), slowing down the dolphin who missed several match points.

At the Meinau stadium, the goals rained down during the first half hour, with Alexis Claude-Maurice (11th) and Loïs Openda (33rd) for Lens and Sanjin Prcic (13th) and Kevin Gameiro (16th) for Strasbourg.

But, saved by their goalkeeper Matz Sels, the Alsatians finally showed a combative face after a nightmarish start to the season punctuated by a single victory.

The electroshock also worked for Nice and its new coach Didier Digard, successor to Lucien Favre: the Aiglons crushed Montpellier 6-1 with in particular doubles from Nicolas Pépé and Ross Barkley!

Lois Openda (c) congratulated by his teammates after scoring for RC Lens against Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on January 11, 2023 in Strasbourg © Frederick FLORIN / AFP

- Rennes sees red, Marseille escapes -

Beaten 2-1 on the lawn of Clermont, Rennes can blame themselves, because the team of Bruno Genesio held the 1-1 for a long time before falling to nine against eleven on a goal after additional time signed Johan Gastien ( 90th+5).

The lack of composure weighed on the Bretons: red cards for Benjamin Bourigeaud (77th) and Warmed Omari (83rd), two notable absentees on Sunday to receive PSG,

"I'm very pissed off by the script," Genesio summed up.

This defeat benefits Marseille, which consolidates its third place (39 pts): the Olympians, for the debut of their Ukrainian rookie Ruslan Malinovskyi, won in Troyes thanks to Chancel Mbemba (10th) and Jordan Veretout (46th).

Chancel Mbemba (c) after his goal scored for Marseille against Troyes in Ligue 1 on January 11, 2023 in Troyes © FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI / AFP

That is a fifth victory in a row, obtained under the eyes of Philippe Diallo, new interim boss of the French Football Federation after the withdrawal of controversial President Noël Le Graët.

Behind Rennes (4th, 34 pts), Monaco came back up (5th, 34 pts) by snatching a 2-2 draw at Lorient (6th, 32 pts) on a saving goal from Wissam Ben Yedder, captain subscribed to the bench (90th+3).

Finally, Lille (7th, 31 pts) is three points behind Rennais despite its draw against Brest (0-0), which treated the debut in Ligue 1 of its new coach Eric Roy.

Lyon does not accelerate, Toulouse curries Auxerre

OL could not do better than a goalless draw (0-0) against FC Nantes (14th) and stagnated in the soft underbelly (8th, 25 pts), ten days after their home defeat against Clermont ( 1-0).

"Regularity, we don't have it yet," complained Lyon coach Laurent Blanc.

Fabien Centonze, from FC Nantes, and Tete, from Olympique Lyonnais, in the fight in Ligue 1 on January 11, 2023 at the Stade de la Beaujoire-Louis Fonteneau © LOIC VENANCE / AFP

For its part, Toulouse punished Auxerre (5-0), which sinks into the red zone (18th).

This is the fourth defeat in a row in L1 for Auxerre, which is not very reassuring before challenging Lens on Saturday.

The TFC is 12th, just behind Reims (11th, 24 pts), which beat Ajaccio 1-0 thanks to Marshall Munetsi (3rd).

© 2023 AFP