UCL: Messi Opens Account With Vintage Strike

Manchester City slipped to a 2-0 defeat to PSG in their Champions League Group A clash at the Parc des Princes in a match that will forever be remembered by a sublime first goal for Paris by Lionel Messi.

 

The Argentine genius has endured a slow start since swapping Barcelona for Paris over the summer. However, all will be forgotten after a sensational strike that rolled back the years and served a timely reminder to those suggesting he’s past his best.

 

His strike quite rightly stole the headlines, though Mauricio Pochettino’s men had to dig deep and were regularly penned back.

However, it was PSG who broke the deadlock after just eight minutes through an unlikely source. The goal was created by Kylian Mbappe, whose cutback was drilled into the top corner by Idrissa Gueye after just eight minutes. It was the former Everton man’s first goal in the Champions League.

City spurned a great chance to equalise after 25 minutes after Kevin de Bruyne’s exquisite ball caused chaos. Raheem Sterling appeared certain to bag the leveller only to see his header hit the bar. That fell kindly to Bernardo Silva, but from just four yards out, he also struck the bar and then missed the ball when it fell back his way.

 

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool enjoyed a dominant win against Porto to maintain their unbeaten start to their Champions League campaign.

 

The Egyptian opened the scoring after 18 minutes when he tucked home a spill from Porto keeper Diogo Jota before adding a second after the break.

 

Sadio Mane had already doubled the Reds’ advantage when he turned in James Milner’s cross, with the latter having replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold in the starting line-up.

 

Porto pulled a goal back through Mehdi Taremi, before Roberto Firmino completed the hammering with two goals in 10 minutes.