PARIS: Lionel Messi scored a stunning free kick in added time to earn Paris St Germain a 4-3 comeback win over Lille on Sunday and lift them seven points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 standings.

PSG, who have struggled for consistency since their return from the World Cup break, extended their lead over the chasing pack, while AS Monaco moved into second with a 2-1 win over Brest.

Kylian Mbappe, making his first start since a two-week injury layoff, opened the scoring at at the Parc des Princes in the 11th minute with a brilliant piece of individual skill, ghosting past two opponents and squeezing a shot under keeper Lucas Chevalier.

Christophe Galtier’s side doubled their lead six minutes later when Neymar tapped in a Vitinha cross to finish off a flowing move.

However, Lille were far from passive as Jonathan David tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a bullet header before Bafode Diakite nodded home an Andre Gomes cross to pull one back in the 24th minute.

PSG suffered a blow early in the second half when forward Neymar was taken off on a stretcher with a suspected ankle injury.

Lille won a penalty after Marco Verratti tugged Tiago Djalo’s shirt and David coolly converted the spot kick to level the score.

Lille piled on the pressure and were rewarded when Gomes pinged a long ball in to the feet of Jonathan Bamba, who smashed his effort past Donnarumma to give his side the lead.

The visitors let their intensity drop, however, and they were punished when Mbappe turned in Juan Bernat’s cross to make it 3-3.

Messi won a free kick five minutes into stoppage time and the Argentine curled it into the bottom corner to score his 11th league goal of the season and seal a dramatic victory for PSG. Elsewhere,Olympique de Marseille came from behind to win 3-2 in Toulouse.

Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga gave Toulouse an early lead, but Marseille came roaring back in the second half at Le Stadium.

Chancel Mbemba equalised and Cengiz Under put Marseille in front before Nuno Tavares netted his sixth goal of the season, with Ado Onaiwu pulling one back for the hosts.

Monaco won 2-1 in Brest to sit two points behind Marseille in third. Aleksandr Golovin and Myron Boadu scored for the principality side, with Jeremy Le Douaron pulling one back.

Fourth-placed Lens were 3-1 winners against Nantes, while Rennes moved back above Lille into fifth by beating Clermont 2-0, ex-PSG forward Arnaud Kalimuendo scoring both of their goals.

There were also wins for Lorient and Montpellier, while Strasbourg moved out of the relegation zone on Saturday by beating bottom side Angers 2-1.

Fellow strugglers Auxerre beat Lyon 2-1 on Friday, while Nice and Reims drew 0-0.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2023