Lionel Messi scored a goal with an upside down bike kick like Paris Saint-Germain kick off their Ligue 1 title defense with a bold 5-0 win over Clermont at the Stade Gabriel Montpied on Saturday.
Messi scored a brace after the goals of Neymar, Achraf Hakimi and Marquinhos as they watched the 4-0 Trophee des Champions win last weekend Nantes with another easy win.
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It took just nine minutes for them to take the lead when Messi brilliantly passed the ball to a pass from Neymar, who made a brilliant move.
Hakimi scored midway through the first half from a quick counter-attack, before Marquinhos headed home Neymar.
Neymar then provided Messi’s fourth, before the Argentinian striker wrapped up a stellar performance with a stunning goal, finishing a pass from Leandro Paredes and deliver a reverse bike-style finish.
PSG do not have a third member of their star striker trio, Kylian Mbappebecause of wound. New coach Christophe Galtier has given PSG his Ligue 1 debut rights to summer arrivals Vitinha, Hugo Ekitike and Nordi Mukiele.
There is also a debut for Warren Zaire-Emery16 years, 4 months and 29 days, became the youngest player ever to wear a PSG shirt in a competitive match.
“Very satisfied, first and foremost winning,” Galtier say then. “Winning the game and scoring five goals is important, as well as not conceding any chances and maintaining high form throughout, even as the gap widens.
“Of course, I like the way the team presents themselves in attack. But it’s also a time when the team needs to work hard to get the ball back. There’s been a lot of effort put into one and the other, and giving their best. . that team effort is something we really emphasize.
“I know that I have a very talented team with very talented players, but they need to play as a team, and that needs to be the whole game and then the whole season. “
Earlier, Monaco won 2-1 at Racing Strasbourg After the home team had the final equalizer, they were eliminated by VAR.
Monaco, the away team in the Champions League qualifying round with PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, took a 2-0 lead Krepin Diatta and Sofiane Diop before Habib Diallo pulled back a goal in the 65th minute.
Diallo thought he had another goal, two minutes of injury time, as he headed home but teammates Alexander Djiku was found to be offside when he provided the assist and the attack was ruled out to give Monaco the win.
