Lionel Messi booed as PSG undergo second straight residence defeat in Ligue 1 vs Lyon

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) suffered a second residence defeat in a row on Sunday, falling 1-0 to Lyon as their World Cup profitable celebrity Lionel Messi was jeered by a bit of supporters. After shedding 2-0 at residence to Rennes two weeks in the past, it was Lyon’s Bradley Barcola, who inflicted the most recent loss for PSG on the Parc des Princes.

The purpose by Barcola — who had come on as alternative for injured Amin Sarr — made up for a missed penalty by Alexandre Lacazette within the first half.

It’s the Parisians’ fifth Ligue 1 loss this season, all of them in 2023, and leaves Christophe Galtier’s aspect simply six factors forward of each second-placed Lens and Marseille in third.

The night time began in controversial circumstances. Because the group line-ups have been introduced over the loudspeaker, whistling greeted Messi’s identify in a single a part of the stadium. Followers in one other space, nonetheless, shouted in response “Messi”.

Messi, 35, is nearing the tip of his two-year contract with the Paris membership. Talks have begun on a doable renewal however he has additionally been linked with a return to Barcelona.

In two seasons, the veteran has performed 67 matches with PSG together with Sunday’s sport towards ninth-placed Lyon and scored 29 targets.

“The whistles, I discover that onerous,” mentioned Galtier.

“Leo is a participant who provides so much and who has given so much because the begin of the season.” He added: “With a stroke of genius, Leo is ready to ship the precise ball, to offer an help, to attain a purpose. I by no means as soon as thought of taking him off.”

PSG midfielder Danilo acknowledged the group had hit “a tough part” which they needed to discover a approach out of, given their rivals have been closing in.

“We’ve to get up. The title isn’t assured in any respect, there are nonetheless lots of matches,” he mentioned on Prime Video. “There are lot of issues to vary, not simply the mindset, nevertheless it’s lower than me to say what.”

PSG have been severely hampered by accidents, with Neymar recovering from ankle surgical procedure and their defence decimated.

On Sunday, PSG referred to as up 17-year-old central defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu however he was overawed, giving freely the ball too usually.

Kylian Mbappe failed to tug off a repeat of his late scoring heroics as he had achieved in latest video games towards Strasbourg and Brest.

“We will not count on every thing from Leo and Kylian,” mentioned Galtier. “It is our eighth defeat in 2023, it is too many.”

Subsequent up for PSG is a visit to Good who’re undefeated since January 2 earlier than an important residence conflict with second-placed Lens.

Lens might be hopeful of delivering an extra blow to their Qatar-owned rivals whose season is threatening to implode after a Champions League exit by the hands of Bayern Munich and a French Cup loss to bitter rivals Marseille.