Striker Lionel Messi was booed by fans, in the match PSG lost 0-1 to Lyon at home in the 29th round of Ligue 1 on April 2.
Final result PSG vs Lyon (0-1)
Score: Barcola (56′)
Messi’s relationship with PSG fans deteriorated after the defending French team was knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern. In the 0-1 defeat against Lyon on April 2, many PSG fans booed when Messi’s name was shouted on the list of players before the match. The same thing happens when the Argentine superstar takes a corner, or loses the ball. After the match, Messi was disappointed, did not go to greet the fans but went straight into the tunnel of the Parc des Princes.
PSG continued to slide with a second consecutive defeat in Ligue 1 at home. But Messi did not play badly in the defeat to Lyon, which was scored by Whoscored 8.0 – the highest on the PSG side. The owner of seven Golden Balls finished two stunts divided equally for each first half, as well as creating delicious opportunities for Kylian Mbappe and Marquinhos.
The indiscreet and superficial defense is the main cause of PSG’s fifth defeat this season. The only goal of Christophe Galtier’s students came at the beginning of the second half, when the PSG defense let Lyon comfortably coordinate. Sael Kumbedi stretched a touch for Bradley Barcola to defeat Gianluigi Donnarumma at close range.
PSG would have been leading at half-time, had Alexandre Lacazette not missed the penalty kick. The host can also take the lead, if the referee decides otherwise in the situation where the ball touches Dejan Lovren’s hand on the side of Lyon in the penalty area. The slow motion shows that Lovren’s hands are not close to his body, although the Croatian midfielder did not intentionally block Nuno Mendes’s stretch.
PSG had nearly 40 minutes to find the equalizer, but failed. The host moved the ball slowly and lacked enthusiasm, while Mbappe proved to be alone in attack. Galtier’s students were powerless to score against Lyon – the team only once failed to concede a goal away from home this season. PSG lost five of their last nine matches in all competitions, making the risk of being sacked obvious to coach Galtier.
PSG still holds the top of the table, six points behind Lens and Marseille. Galtier teachers and students need to improve their performance, if they want to be crowned for the 11th time in Ligue 1 and surpass the record of St. Etienne. Lyon rose to ninth, but still eight points away from the European Cup group.