Football

Ligue 1: Lionel Messi returns, Sergio Ramos scores as PSG thrash Reims

Jeremy Caroll

Paris St Germain proceeded with their march towards the Ligue 1 title as Marco Verratti inspired them to a 4-0 home win against Stade de Reims on Sunday and Lionel Messi his first appearance of the year.

Italy midfielder Verratti found the back of the net for PSG for the first time since 2019, while Sergio Ramos scored his first goal for the PSG. Wout Faes scored an own o goal, and Danilo Pereira added one more to place PSG on 53 points from 22 matches.

With Messi on the bench and back in the squad for the first time this year, having contracted COVID-19 during the break, PSG began with Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi, and Angel Di Maria front upfront. Mbappe had two clear chances after 30 minutes yet it was Verratti who broke the deadlock not long before halftime when he whipped a low shot past Predrag Rajkovic. It then, at that point, became simpler for the hosts and Ramos doubled the advantage on 63 minutes from close range after Pereira’s header had been deflected into the Spaniard’s path by Andreaw Gravillon.

Pereira wrapped it up in the 76th when his powerful shot took a deflection before sailing past Rajkovic.

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