Troyes 1-2 PSG: Mauro Icardi scores winner as Mauricio Pochettino’s side commence bid to regain Ligue 1 title with win against newly-promoted Troyes as Lionel Messi continues to be linked with move
- Mauro Icardi scored the winner as PSG started the season by beating Troyes 2-1
- Oualid El Hajjam had put Troyes in front but Achraf Hakimi managed to equalise
- PSG are looking to regain the Ligue 1 title after Lille prevailed last campaign
Paris Saint-Germain started their Ligue 1 campaign with a comeback 2-1 win at promoted Troyes on Saturday while anticipating the arrival of six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi who appears set to join the French giants.
Messi will be holding a news conference at 10am on Sunday after Barcelona said earlier this week that the 34-year-old Argentine will leave the club.
French daily newspaper L’Equipe reported on Friday that Messi is set to join Paris St Germain and the club’s Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino said his compatriot was an ‘option that was being evaluated.’
Mauro Icardi scored the winner as PSG started the Ligue 1 season with a 2-1 win versus Troyes
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the club had been forced to part ways with Messi because his high wages coupled with strict La Liga financial rules could jeopardise their future.
The speculation proved to be an unwelcome distraction for PSG early on at Troyes, who took a shock ninth-minute lead when Oualid El Hajjam beat visiting goalkeeper Kaylor Navas with a firm downward header after a Dylan Chambost corner.
Achraf Hakimi equalised for PSG as he managed to find the net in the 19th minute
Oualid El Hajjam had given newly-promoted Troyes a shock lead with nine minutes gone
But the visitors, who relinquished the French league title to Lille last season, hit back with a quickfire brace as new signing Achraf Hakimi levelled in the 19th minute before Mauro Icardi turned the tide in the 21st.
Hakimi, who joined PSG from Inter Milan during the summer break, blasted in a sumptuous volley from a tight angle before Icardi found the roof of the net with the outside of his foot thanks to good work by Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe twice came close in the second half with one of his shots cleared of the line and the other flying over the bar before PSG were forced to hang on in the closing stages.
In the day’s early fixture, Olympique Lyonnais were held to a 1-1 home draw by Brest after substitute Islam Slimani scored with his first touch of the ball to cancel out an Irvin Cardona opener for the visitors.
Lille start their title defence at Metz on Sunday while Olympique Marseille visit Montpellier in the day’s other standout fixture.