Lionel Messi can shout champion again. PSG will play Auxerre away today and a win at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps will guarantee them first place. In that case, if Lens does not defeat Lorient, it will be champion.
Despite the whistles he receives every weekend at the Parc des Princes. Beyond that his future in France is uncertain. Regardless of everything that happens in that context of tension, Messi is going for another title. He has 41 in his career: there were 34 with Barcelona, 2 with PSG and 5 with the Argentine National Team (three in the Major, the U20 World Cup in 2005 and the 2008 Olympic Games with the U23).
The Argentine star is one step away from local glory, even if it is little considering that the main objective could not be given: the Champions League. The match will start at 15.45 in Argentina and will be televised by ESPN.
Olympique de Marseille's 2-1 defeat (Clauss goal) against Lille (David and Bamba) left another opponent in the way and did not change the scenario. Much less Nantes 0-Montpellier 3 (Ferri, Nordin and Sacko).
With two dates to go, Parisians depend on themselves, of course. And Messi is announced as a starter in the team led by Christophe Galtier.
Messi plays his last matches with PSG. Photo: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann.
By the way, the coach spoke at the press conference prior to the match this afternoon and is already worried about the future. Not only his, since his position is in check; also, because he knows that he hardly has Messi, who wants to leave and whose contract expires next month, and Neymar, who despite having a signed link until 2027 is another crack who wants to look for another destination in the European summer market.
He already knows, at least, that Marquinhos will continue at the club because yesterday the renewal of the Brazilian defender's tie with PSG until 2028 was announced.
Galtier lamented not having been able to get the most out of Mbappé, Neymar and Messi: "As soon as I took over, it was a goal to be able to associate them. Unfortunately, with the World Cup, injuries and fatigue, we couldn't take advantage of them throughout the season."
PSG brought together Messi, Mbappé and Neymar but the partnership did not achieve the expected results. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP.
However, he was satisfied with the overall work. "We made a very interesting attacking game. But it's part of a single season," the 56-year-old said.
The reality is that despite the questions about some performances and the early elimination of the Champions League (it was out in the second round against Bayern Munich), the French team always remained at the top of the table. Today he has 81 units, 6 more than his escort Lens and 8 above Olympique de Marseille.
Messi comes from being champion with the Argentine National Team and is going for another title. Photo: Agustin Marcarian/Reuters.
The squad full of figures was the main focus of criticism that the Parisian team received over the last year, something that had already happened in the previous season with Mauricio Pochettino. And although Galtier managed to decompress some pressures, he could not prevent history from repeating itself months later.
Auxerre, directed by Christophe Pélissie, will go with Radu; Rayan Raveloson, Julian Jeanvier, Jubal, Isaak Touré, Gideon Mensah; Youssouf Changama, Birama Touré, Han Noah Massengo; Nuno da Costa and Gauthier Hein. PSG will line up Gianluigi Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Danilo Pereira, Achraf Hakimi; Marco Verratti, Fabián Ruiz, Juan Bernat; Lionel Messi, Hugo Ekitike and Kylian Mbappé.
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