PARIS: Goals in the second half from World Cup winner Lionel Messi and Achraf Hakimi helped Paris Saint-Germain to come back from a goal down against Toulouse to win 2-1 at the Parc des Princes in a Ligue 1 match on Saturday.
League leader Paris Saint-Germain was without injured star forwards Kylian Mbappé and Neymar for the home game against Toulouse. Mbappé is out for at least three weeks after sustaining a left thigh tear in a match on Wednesday. Neymar is having treatment for a sore adductor and misses his second straight game.
Brance van den Boomen opened the scoring for Toulouse with a freekick in the 20th minute, after wrong-footing PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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Achraf Hakimi grabbed the equalizer in the 38th minute. Hakimi, a skilled crosser, decided to move inside on his weaker left foot and place the ball in the far corner.
It took the defending champion until the second half to take the lead. Messi’s first-time shot into the bottom right corner gave PSG their chance to capitalize after a protracted period of pressure.
With the win, PSG stays top of the Ligue 1 standings with 54 points from 22 matches.
