Lionel Messi was jeered by the home supporters on his return to action as Paris Saint-Germain took a step closer to the Ligue 1 title with a 5-0 victory over Ajaccio, a result that consigned the visitors to relegation.
2022/2023 Ligue 1
5-0
Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave PSG a comfortable lead at half-time and Kylian Mbappe got in on the act with a second-half brace at Parc des Princes. Mohamed Youssouf's own goal compounded the visitors' misery before Hakimi and Ajaccio midfielder Thomas Mangani were sent off following a melee.
The win - which restores PSG's lead at the top of the table to six points - was soured with the booing of Messi, who was restored to Christophe Galtier’s side following his suspension for taking an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. With just three games remaining, a win at Auxerre on Sunday, May 21, would all but secure back-to-back titles for PSG.
PSG had lost three of their previous four games at Parc des Princes but were in control from the first whistle on this occasion and led in the 21st-minute when Ruiz raced onto Danilo’s through ball and lifted it over Francois-Joseph Sollacaro.
Hakimi made it two with the simplest of finishes after Kylian Mbappe’s effort was parried into his path by the Ajaccio goalkeeper. The referee confirmed the goal stood after re-watching it on the pitchside monitor following a suspected handball by Mbappe.
Mbappe got in on the act just two minutes after the break, sweeping home from close range after a scramble inside the Ajaccio penalty area. If that goal was scrappy, his second was anything but as he volleyed a sumptuous first-time effort past the helpless Sollacaro.
PSG were cutting their opponents open at will as Marquinhos’ cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Youssouf to make it 5-0 before Hakimi and Mangani were sent off for their part in a scuffle from players of both sides.
Match Events
6' Mbappe misses a good chance!
21' Ekitike goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
22' GOAL! PSG 1-0 Ajaccio (Fabian Ruiz)
33' GOAL! PSG 2-0 Ajaccio (Hakimi)
47' GOAL! PSG 3-0 Ajaccio (Mbappe)
54' GOAL! PSG 4-0 Ajaccio (Mbappe)
68' Barreto fires his shot into the sky!
73' OWN GOAL! PSG 5-0 Ajaccio (Mohamed Youssouf)
80' Red Card! Hakimi and Mangani sent off
Line-ups
PSG XI: Messi, Ramos, Verratti, Danilo Pereira, Marquinhos, Bernat, Fabian Ruiz, Mbappe, Donnarumma, Hakimi, Hugo Ekitiké
Subs: Rico, R.Sanches, Soler, Vitinha, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Ismaël Gharbi, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Ilyes Housni, Serif Nhaga
Ajaccio XI: Mathieu Coutadeur, Mangani, Cédric Avinel, Mohamed Youssouf, Michaël Barreto, François-Joseph Sollacaro, Vincent Marchetti, Ismaël Diallo, Mounaïm El Idrissy, Clément Vidal, Kevin Spadanuda
Subs: Alphonse, Riad Nouri, Benjamin Leroy, Fernand Mayembo, Chabrolle, A. Khelifa, Moussa Soumano, Ivane Chegra, Ben Hamed Touré