Ligue 1: Messi, Mbappe set record as PSG defeats Marseille

• Marseille hosted PSG in the Ligue 1 on Sunday evening in the top of the table clash
• The hosts needed a win to close on leaders PSG in their bid to win the France’s top-flight
• Mbappe and Messi were both on target as PSG pull clear of Marseille at the summit of Ligue 1

Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain defeated rivals Marseille 3-0 on Sunday, as Kylian Mbappe set a new joint record for goals scored for PSG and Lionel Messi scored his 700th goal for a senior team.

As the visitors sprinted to a 2-0 halftime advantage, Mbappe and Messi traded assists. Messi’s tap-in gave him 700 goals in senior football for Barcelona and PSG.

The pair kept their best for last, though, as Mbappe scored PSG’s 200th goal on a memorable night for Christophe Galtier’s team by volleying in Messi’s dinked pass to join Edinson Cavani on the feat.

The outcome put PSG eight points ahead of Marseille in the Ligue 1 standings, relieving Galtier of some of the strain that had been mounting due to their lackluster start to 2023.

PSG forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opener against Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, February 26 2023. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

Presnel Kimpembe’s injury dealt PSG an early setback, but after 25 minutes, they took the lead when Messi found room to find Mbappe in the box, and the striker finished expertly.

Four minutes later, Mbappe returned the favor by teaming up with Nuno Mendes on the run and setting up Messi for a tap-in with a precisely placed low cross.

After Marquinhos beat the hosts’ offside trap and somehow missed from just six yards out, Messi should have had a second when he somehow blazed over.

Six minutes after the game’s restart, Mbappe tipped Vitinha’s cross just wide of the left-hand post, but four minutes later, the France ace scored a historic goal.

After a well-executed play, Messi scooped a beautiful ball into Mbappe’s path, who slammed a left-footed volley beyond Pau Lopez to put the game away.

Gianluigi Donnarumma made two excellent stops to prevent Alexis Sanchez and Marseille’s Vitinha from tying the score. This preserved PSG’s perfect record.

PSG pull clear of Marseille

With Marseille having won seven league games since the World Cup, PSG, who had dropped three of their previous four on the road, was thought to be in a tough position to defend their domestic title on Sunday.

Mbappe and Messi, however, silenced the boisterous home crowd with a remarkable performance as PSG jumped to the summit of Ligue 1 with a commanding lead.

Mbappe writes his name on history as Messi hits 700

PSG forward Lionel Messi leads other PSG players in celebration after scoring the second against Marseille and his 700th senior career goal for a club. | PHOTO: ESPN |

Mbappe capped a fantastic performance by claiming a piece of PSG history by joining Cavani on 200 goals for the club with his second-half volley. He had already applied one cool finish and set up a goal for Messi.

Only Erling Haaland of Manchester City has scored more (33) goals among players from Europe’s top five divisions than the striker’s 29 this season.

Neymar was absent from PSG because of an injury he sustained in last week’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Lille, but his absence was not noticed because Mbappe and Messi made excellent passes to one another.

This season, Mbappe and Messi have now combined for 10 goals in Ligue 1, which is at least four more than any other player duo (Mbappe and Neymar are second with six).

On Saturday, PSG will play home to Nantes in their upcoming Ligue 1 match, while Marseille will play Annecy in the Coupe de France quarterfinals on Wednesday.