Player ratings as late Mbappe & Messi goals end embarrassing run

Paris Saint-Germain were only minutes away from suffering a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions against Lille on Sunday, until late goals from Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi spared the blushes for the reigning champions after initially throwing away a 2-0 first half lead.

Mbappe and Neymar had put PSG two ahead early on, but three deserved Lille goals from Bafode Diakite, Jonathan David, Jonathan Bamba had the 2021 champions on the cusp of a famous win. But Mbappe equalised towards the end, before a Messi free-kick won it in stoppage time.

Aside from an early opportunity from Lionel Messi that was well saved by Lucas Chevalier, Lille actually had the better of the first half chances despite conceding twice early.

From the very first minute, Gianluigi Donnarumma had to be alert, saving with his legs with less than 60 seconds on the clock from a deflected Timothy Weah strike. That wasn’t the only time the Italian goalkeeper was in action in the opening exchanges, soon tipping over from David after a weak head from Presnel Kimpembe and then a near post save to deny David again.

The first two of those saves came at 0-0, highlighting PSG’s fragility at the back.

The hosts had individual brilliance to thank for being ahead after only nine minutes as Mbappe managed to squirm through on the left, nutmegging Tiago Djalo and firing past Chevalier.

There was a mix of skill and fortune about PSG’s second not long after, with Messi’s genius dummy run making the space on the right side of the box. Chevalier successfully closed down Vitinha, only for the ball to pop up fortuitously to Neymar for an easy finish.

Lille refused to back down and it was 2-1 midway through the half when right-back Diakite got to Andre Gomes’ in-swinging cross from the left and headed beyond Donnarumma. The visitors even wanted a penalty when where was a coming together between Nuno Mendes and David, with a VAR check eventually agreeing with referee Willy Delajod that Mendes got the ball first.

A flurry of further Lille chances just prior to half-time could have got them level, with Remy Cabella’s disappointing drive into the side-netting the pick of them.

While PSG were struggling to even get their superstar front three involved, Lille made just as bright a start to the second half as they had finished the first and brought it back to 2-2 from the penalty spot just prior to the hour mark. To say it was deserved would be an understatement given the flow of the game, although…