Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Lille 5-1 at Stade Pierre Mauroy, with Lionel Messi scoring his first Ligue 1 goal since November.
Messi’s crafty finish for PSG’s third goal ended a six-game drought in the competition, with Danilo Pereira scoring twice and Presnel Kimpembe also on target before Kylian Mbappe’s magnificent 20-yard strike closed off the scoring.
Last season, the Parisians’ 1-0 loss to Lille in April was a crucial result in the title fight, with Lille finishing a point ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s side to win the title.
The result on Sunday night leaves Lille in the middle of the standings, while PSG leads second-placed Marseille by 13 points.
Goalkeeper Ivo Grbic misjudged a cross from the left whipped in by Nuno Mendes in the 10th minute, fumbling the ball and allowing Pereira to poke home.
PSG’s Messi curled a 20-yard attempt over, but Lille got the game’s second goal, Sven Botman bouncing a 10-yard shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after Hatem Ben Arfa made a nuisance of himself by crawling into the area from the left wing.
PSG took the lead again in the 32nd minute when Kimpembe pushed in Messi’s right-wing corner at the far post for the defender’s first league goal of the season.
Six minutes later, Messi scored after collecting the scraps from a Mbappe charge, locating an opening between Lille defenders, sprinting past, and cheekily chipping Gbric.
Pereira’s 25-yard effort deflected off Amadou Onana and fooled Grbic for PSG’s fourth goal after 51 minutes.
Mbappe’s superb finish, stepping in from the left, curled the ball into the far-right corner for the visitors’ crowning glory, was too much for the goalie to handle.
Source: Livescore news
