PSG vs Angers score, result: Messi scores on return as PSG top ...

Lionel Messi made his long awaited return to PSG after victory at the 2022 World Cup as the French giants hosted basement-dwellers Angers at Parc des Princes, and he marked it appropriately by scoring the team's second goal in a 2-0 victory.

Angers were hardly a threat throughout, barely troubling PSG throughout the 90 minutes. There were a few nervy moments for the hosts, but overall they were comfortable. Hugo Ekitike scored just five minutes into the match, and that gave PSG the comfortability it enjoyed for much of the game.

It was clear that, amidst a bit of an injury swell, PSG manager Christophe Galtier told his side not to push the envelope unless absolutely necessary. That produced some whistles from the home fans as PSG clearly felt little incentive to venture forward. Angers felt boosted as they were still trailing by just a single goal with 20 minutes to go, but Messi's strike survived a VAR check and ended any chance of an upset.

With Lens drawing Strasbourg elsewhere in Ligue 1 play today, the victory swells PSG's lead to six points the top of the French league table. Angers, meanwhile, remain bottom of the standings, without a single point since September.

The Sporting News followed the match live and provided score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

Messi has now scored a goal in:

2005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023

GOAT things ???? pic.twitter.com/YFIIcgNQoI

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 11, 2023

PSG vs Angers final score

	1H	2H	Final
PSG	1	1	2
Angers	0	0	0

Goals: 5th min — PSG — Hugo Ekitike72nd min — PSG — Lionel Messi

Confirmed lineups:

PSG (4-3-3, right to left): 99. Donnarumma (GK) — 26. Mukiele, 19. Ramos, 5. Marquinhos, 14. Bernat — 12. Fabian (Zaire-Emery, 80'), 15. Danilo, 17. Vitinha — 10. Neymar, 30. Messi, 9. Ekitike (Soler, 80').

Angers (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Bernardoni (GK) — 25. Bamba, 5. Blazic, 22. Hountondji, 3. Doumbia — 10. Abdelli (Abdelli, 62'), 6. Bentaleb, 2. Mendy (Taibi, 80'), 15. Capelle (Boufal, 63') — 19. Sima (Thioub, 80'), 23. Hunou (Salama, 62').

PSG vs Angers live updates, highlights, commentary FULLTIME: PSG 2-0 Angers

You'd be correct to call this a comprehensive victory for PSG today at Parc des Princes, but it wasn't exactly pretty. Angers were poor before PSG were good.

PSG get goals from Hugo Ekitike and Lionel Messi, the latter on his return from the World Cup, making Angers the 131st opponent Messi has scored against in his career (95 clubs and 36 nations), while Paul Bernardoni became the 231st goalkeeper he has scored on.

An awesome stat from @AboyAgustin:

Today, returning from the World Cup as a champion with Argentina, Lionel Messi scored PSG's 2nd goal in a 2-0 win vs Angers.

Aug 24, 1986: Diego Maradona returned a World Cup champion & scored Napoli's 2nd in a 2-0 win vs SPAL

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) January 11, 2023

PSG vs. Angers: 2nd Half

90+2 min: Neymar, just off a yellow card suspension, has a brainless moment and picks up a yellow card for kicking the hamstring of Abdoulaye Bamba.

90th min: Chance, PSG! ONE OF THE BEST SAVES YOU'LL EVER SEE! Angers may be out of this match, but that's one of the most unbelievable saves. On the corner, Nordi Mukiele gets his head to the ball at the top of the six-yard box, and he puts forth an excellent effort, but the Angers goalkeeper makes a reflex save down low to his right. That's as good as it gets.

89th min: There's the yellow card, as Angers defender Miha Blazic sticks a foot out and trips Lionel Messi just outside the penalty area. It's a centrally located free-kick, as yet again Messi and Neymar both talk it over on the ball. Messi is the decoy first, and then Neymar takes, and forces a save out of Paul Bernardoni. It was a comfortable save, but he could only tip it over the bar.

85th min: Somehow, bafflingly, Sofiane Boufal gets away with no caution as he hacks at Vitinha's knees with a wild kick. It's a dangerous moment and could even be argued as a sending off, but somehow the Moroccan is not shown any additional punishment by the official. Ouch. Vitinha's been sensational today.

In 70 minutes for PSG today vs. Angers, Vitinha has 107 touches. He's lost possession three (3) times.

Insane that he was not a regular for Portugal at the World Cup, or for PSG here this season.

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) January 11, 2023

83rd min: Chance, PSG! Oh my, what would have been a SENSATIONAL goal by Neymar is chalked off by the offside flag! Messi loops one vertically to Neymar breaking the defensive line, and the Brazilian produces a stunning bit of skill to turn 360 degrees and rifle it into the net on the volley.

The replay shows that Neymar is leaning slightly offside, and the decision survives a VAR review. It's still quite the moment! What a goal that could have been.

Stunning goal from Neymar but he’s just offsides. That body control to time the turn and finish is just insane. That would have been special.

— Ethan Budowsky (@ethanbudowsky) January 11, 2023

79th min: Christophe Galtier makes his first two substitutions of the match, bringing on 16-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery into the midfield. Zaire-Emery is a big prospect and many thought he would start today. Carlos Soler also comes in to replace Hugo Ekitike.

Angers counter with a pair of their own, as Sada Thioub and Waniss Taibi enter for Abdallah Sima and Batista Mendy.

77th min: Messi, stop it! The GOAT dribbles through about four defenders before slotting to Juan Bernat on the left. It appeared that Messi thought Bernat would shoot himself, as the Argentine looked like he was positioning himself for a rebound, but instead Bernat sends it back to the goal mouth for Messi, and Angers can clear. Messi upset with that decision from his teammate.

72nd min: GOAL! PSG! Lionel Messi has a goal ruled out by the offside flag! A wonderful buildup sees Nordi Mukiele played in by Messi, and then the Argentine gets the ball back on a wonderful one-two to get free. He pokes the ball past the Angers goalkeeper, but the offside flag goes up. VAR has a look, and while Mukiele is onside on the initial ball, Messi is clearly off by just a hair (er, knee) on the return ball.

BUT NO! VAR says goal! The replay looked pretty clear, that Messi's knee was off, but instead the replay review system gives the goal! It appears that instead of the defender's shoulder, the line is drawn on the ball itself as Mukiele delivers the lateral pass. PSG are through with, in all likelihood, all three goals!

Watch in USA & Canada:

OF COURSE IT HAD TO BE LIONEL MESSI ⭐️????

???? PSG 2-0 Angers???? LIVE NOW on beIN SPORTS#PSGSCO #Ligue1UberEats pic.twitter.com/1NSdKnbiYs

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 11, 2023

Watch in the UK:

Lionel Messi is starting 2023 how he finished 2022 ????‍♂️

It was marginal, but the GOAT doubles PSG's lead ????

He makes it look so easy... pic.twitter.com/KujydPyEAn

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 11, 2023

Watch in Australia:

⚽️ GOAL! Ice-cool from Lionel Messi, as he marks his return to @PSG_English with a goal, and the home side leads @AngersSCO 2-0

???? Watch LIVE NOW on beIN 3 via @Foxtel, @kayosports, Fetch & beIN CONNECT ????https://t.co/dR3JmGUdy7 #PSGSCO #Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/vTFOKCMhKp

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_AUS) January 11, 2023

67th min: More whistles from the crowd. Angers were already starting to sniff the attacking third more, and Sofiane Boufal's introduction has only given them a further grip on the match. The Moroccan World Cup hero, in his first appearance since the tournament in Qatar, is taking over. The home fans can feel the tide turning.

There aren't many options Christophe Galtier can turn to on the bench thanks to injuries. Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Soler don't exactly inspire confidence when you need a goal.

61st min: Chance, Angers! On no, that was the chance! The visitors had their moment to equalise as both Marquinhos and Juan Bernat got caught up the field on the counter, leaving Abdallah Sima all alone at the far post. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old striker lashed at his chance and rifled it high, well over the bar. What a miss! You can't flub those and expect to beat PSG.

⚪⚫ Énorme occasion angevine ! Trouvé seul dans la surface, Sima envoie une frappe surpuissante... qui passe au-dessus des cages de Donnarumma !

Le live du match ici ► https://t.co/ZXwGkWA4bv pic.twitter.com/Ql5FXoiQB4

— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) January 11, 2023

Angers make a triple change, bringing on Amine Salama and Farid El Melali for Adrien Hunou and Himad Abdelli. Will we see Sofiane Boufal? Yes! He comes on just after, replacing Pierrick Capelle.

58th min: Chance, PSG! Juan Bernat does well to feed Hugo Ekitike, and the PSG frontman has a hit with his right, forcing another very good save from Paul Bernardoni. The effort is just the fifth shot for PSG in the match, and there are some whistles from the PSG fans as they want to see more from their star-studded side.

55th min: A nervy moment for PSG as Sergio Ramos passes the ball directly to an Angers attacker, but Marquinhos saves the day with a one-on-one block of Adrien Hunou's shot. Can't be doing that if PSG wish to keep this one-goal lead.

54th min: A hilarious moment as Pierrick Capelle earns a yellow card for literally slapping the ball out of the air, quite clearly on purpose. Not sure what the goal was there. It's the first caution of the match for either side.

53rd min: Now the flag halts a Nordi Mukiele run forward for PSG. Very little in this second half in the early going, much like the way the first half ended. Snoozer.

49th min: Angers have been the ones to control possession early, but the offside flag stops a pair of attacks. This is what the visitors need to do to get PSG back out of their shell, as the hosts look to conserve energy and preserve the lead.

Kickoff: Back under way for the final 45 minutes. Angers hanging around on the scoreline, which is all that matters, but they showed very little in the opening half, so the lead feels bigger. PSG will want a second, but will also want to emerge healthy and fit moving forward. Angers will have to produce something moving forward if PSG to go back to full throttle.

HALFTIME: PSG 1-0 Angers

The end of the half is as sleepy as it gets, as PSG shut it down and allowed Angers to possess to very little danger.

Overall, the first 45 minutes were a snooze-fest, as there was very little goal action, and PSG will be fine with that. The Parisians have expended very little energy relative to a more competitive match yet still have the lead, and Angers look hardly a threat to that advantage.

Unless Angers push PSG further, the second half could be more of the same, although a second goal would go a long way towards making the hosts feel comfortable about the remaining proceedings.

Analyst: "Other than the early PSG goal, this half has gone pretty well for Angers"@PhilSchoen: "That's correct, Mrs. Lincoln"

ROLLING ????????????

— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) January 11, 2023

PSG vs. Angers: First half

40th min: Angers with a rare adventure forward, but Himad Abdelli is isolated in the middle, and the cross to him arrives at his head way too far from goal to present any danger. He heads it well wide anyways.

35th min: Lionel Messi is hacked to the ground by Batista Mendy, and it earns a dangerous free-kick from about 23 yards out. Once again both Messi and Neymar stand over it, but this time it's Messi to take, and he blasts it into the wall.

33rd min: Chance, PSG! Lionel Messi DENIED by another spectacular Paul Bernardoni save!!! Messi gets it from Fabian Ruiz at the top of the penalty area and he turns on the jets, streaking towards goal before rifling with his left foot. Bernardoni is up to the task, going full stretch up and to his left to get his fingertips on the ball. That's a save the 25-year-old Frenchman will remember!

⏱ 33’

LA PARADE DE BERNARDONI sur la tentative de Messi !!!!!!!!#PSGSCO 1-0

— Angers SCO (@AngersSCO) January 11, 2023

29th min: Another deep free-kick from PSG here, but they try something silly off the training ground, and Angers sniff it out immediately. The visitors tried to break and Juan Bernat has to commit a foul to prevent the counter.

24th min: Chance, PSG! WHAT A SAVE BY PAUL BERNARDONI! Neymar's free-kick delivery was sensational, right onto the head of Sergio Ramos, but the Spaniard's effort is right at the Angers goalkeeper, and he makes a wonderful reactionary save at point-blank range.

23rd min: Angers getting physical. First Neymar is barged over from behind by Nabil Bentaleb, and then Lionel Messi is felled by an outstretched leg in his way. PSG have a free-kick from about 35 yards away from goal. Messi and Neymar stand over it, and after the official sorts out a mess in the scrum, it's Neymar who takes...

20th min: Neymar takes another crunching tackle from Angers captain Pierrick Capelle and crumples to a heap. The world's most fouled player is taking another beating. He grimaces but gets back to his feet.

14th min: Angers have their first counter-attack attempt, moving down the left through Abdallah Sima, but a heavy touch sees the chance fizzle out as the ball flies over the end line. First signs of life from the visitors in the French capital.

12th min: It's back to a slow, plodding possessional approach for PSG, and Angers have offered very little in the way of opposition.

Neymar comes up limping after he's challenged on a speculative through ball, shielded off by Angers defender Abdoulaye Bamba. Neymar is recently recovered from an ankle injury suffered during the World Cup, and you wonder if that's still somewhat bothering him. One to watch moving forward. 

5th min: GOAL! PSG! That didn't take long! PSG hardly had a sniff of the attacking third, and in one of their first forays into the penalty area, they profit. Nordi Mukiele down the right flank gets free vertically, and he delivers a low cross right to the feet of Hugo Ekitike. The PSG striker gets outside position on Cedric Hountondji and finishes with a smart cut ball inside the far post.

Watch in USA & Canada:

HUGO EKITIKE gives PSG the lead ????

???? PSG 1-0 Angers???? LIVE NOW on beIN SPORTS#PSGSCO #Ligue1UberEats pic.twitter.com/cXwNQNf5VS

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 11, 2023

Watch in Australia:

⚽️ We have a goal in Paris as Hugo Ekitike's ice-cool finish gives @PSG_English an early lead against @AngersSCO

???? Watch LIVE NOW on beIN 1 via @Foxtel, @kayosports, Fetch & beIN CONNECT ????https://t.co/dR3JmGUdy7 #PSGSCO #Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/nWF7G5LVXu

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_AUS) January 11, 2023

3rd min: PSG controlling the early possession, as expected. Very little danger to this point though, as they knock the ball around in the middle third, near the halfway line. Angers remain compact defensively. Lionel Messi attempts to dribble down the opponent's throat but he's surrounded by three red shirts and is dispossessed.

Kickoff: The teams held a minute's applause in memory of Pele, and now the match is under way! No Kylian Mbappe for PSG, but they have Lionel Messi and Neymar returning to the squad and the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Angers need a lifeline in a worst way.

Lionel Messi is back on the pitch a hero.

La belle ovation du Parc des Princes pour Lionel Messi à l'annonce de la compo du PSG ! #PSGSCO pic.twitter.com/pjSWNo5fzV

— Lucas Billard (@LucasBillard6) January 11, 2023

PSG vs Angers: Pre-match commentary, analysis, and stats

5 mins to kick: As the match is sest to begin, the PSG squad, including Brazilian players Neymar and Marquinhos, are paying tribute to departed legend Pele with their shirts during warmups.

Jogadores do PSG prestam homenagem a Pelé ????????????

pic.twitter.com/0WRgHH7YCS

— bwin_pt (@bwin_portugal) January 11, 2023

13 mins to kick: Attendance at Parc des Princes is less than ideal! Lionel Messi is obviously a huge draw globally but locally the absence of Kylian Mbappe likely hurts the expected attendance overall.

PSG vs. Angers - as sparse as it gets here ???? #PSGSCO pic.twitter.com/ktoNB9cxMi

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) January 11, 2023

25 mins to kick: All eyes are on Lionel Messi as he warms up ahead of his return to PSG action!

¡Así entra en calor el campeón del mundo! ????

En minutos, PSG ???? Angers en vivo y en exclusivo en #StarPlusLA.#MiraloEnStarPlus: https://t.co/kOVxg858u3 pic.twitter.com/do6eEYOGd3

— ESPN Fútbol Argentina (@ESPNFutbolArg) January 11, 2023

45 mins to kick: In the 1004th match of Lionel Messi's career, he will play for the first time as a World Cup champion.

Argentina coach feels Lionel Messi will play in the next World Cup ???????????? pic.twitter.com/7PQqRI28VP

— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) January 11, 2023

55 mins to kick: Lineups are in, and it's as expected for PSG with Lionel Messi and Neymar returning, while Kylian Mbappe is rested, with Hugo Ekitike in. There was some buzz that young Warren Zaire-Emery could be deployed in midfield, but instead it's Danilo, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz chosen instead. Thanks to injuries, PSG have just one defender, 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu, on the bench.

Sofiane Boufal makes the bench but does not start. Ivory Coast international Abdoulaye Bamba gets a rare start at right-back in place of regular Yan Valery, who does not appear in the squad. Up front is 21-year-old Abdallah Sima who gets the nod for the third straight game, having scored in the defeat to Lorient last time out.

70 mins to kick: While lineups are not yet out, one player who will not make the PSG squad is Kylian Mbappe, who has been given extra days off as the club takes on one of the worst teams in the league. He was not included in the matchday squad and will be given time to recover ahead of a match of much higher importance on Sunday against Stade Rennes.

???????? The Parisian squad to face Angers on Wednesday

???????? #PSGSCO pic.twitter.com/cEze1sT9lO

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 10, 2023

85 mins to kick: Speaking of players returning from World Cup duty, Sofiane Boufal hasn't returned for Angers quite yet. While Messi has the age, pedigree, and trophy to support his time away, Boufal's absence has instead caused rumors of discontent at the bottom-dwelling Ligue 1 club.

Interestingly, he reportedly returned to training last week and was included in the Angers squad and we will soon find out whether he's been deployed today for the first time since Morocco's time at the World Cup ended.

???? Découvre le groupe retenu pour affronter le @PSG_inside demain au Parc des Princes dans le cadre de la 18e journée de @Ligue1UberEats !

???? Nous pouvons noter le retour de @sosoboufal19 et la première convocation de Lilian Rao Lisoa ! pic.twitter.com/5nKBMRvofj

— Angers SCO (@AngersSCO) January 10, 2023

103 mins to kick: Guess who's back.

???? #PSGSCO pic.twitter.com/082XkU9hSH

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 11, 2023

120 mins to kick: Lionel Messi returns to club action today from World Cup duty, and he's been recognised as one of five PSG players to be nominated for selection in the FIFA 23 Team of the Year. The other PSG players nominated are Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Achraf Hakimi, and Marquinhos.

???? Our 5️⃣ #TOTY nominees✨ Back the best from Paris now ➡ https://t.co/2On8oPnekh@EASPORTSFIFA #FIFA23 pic.twitter.com/NRmO4mcQHr

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 10, 2023

PSG vs Angers lineups & team news

Lionel Messi is back for PSG in his first appearance at the club level since winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while his strike partner Neymar also returns from his one-match suspension. However, Kyilan Mbappe is not available as he was given the match off by manager Christophe Galtier, not included in the matchday squad.

PSG's midfield construction will be something to watch as Galtier has yet to find the right mix of players in the center of the pitch. They are without Marco Verratti who missed PSG training on Tuesday due to a quad injury, and was ruled out of the match shortly after. That could see a way back in for out-of-favor Vitinha.

Achraf Hakimi is suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation, seeing Nordi Mukiele slot in at right-back. Nuno Mendes is also injured, meaning PSG are without both first-choice full-backs. There is just one defender, 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu, on the bench.

PSG confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma (GK) — Mukiele, Ramos, Marquinhos, Bernat — Fabian, Danilo, Vitinha — Neymar, Messi, Ekitike.

PSG subs (9): Rico (GK), Navas (GK), Bitshiabu, Gharbi, Zaire-Emery, Soler, Kari, Housni, Sarabia.

????✅ Notre onze de départ pour ce #PSGSCO !#AllezParis ???????? pic.twitter.com/8PnefOpWf3

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) January 11, 2023

World Cup standout Sofiane Boufal, who leads the team in goal contributions this season, has been absent since World Cup duty and has yet to return to the club. There are rumors he's using an extended absence to force his way out after his impressive display in Qatar. However, he returns today to make the Angers bench.

Ivory Coast international Abdoulaye Bamba gets a rare start at right-back in place of regular Yan Valery, who does not appear in the squad. Up front is 21-year-old Abdallah Sima who gets the nod for the third straight game, having scored in the defeat to Lorient last time out.

Starting goalkeeper Yahia Fofana has been missing since picking up a knee injury in mid-November, while defender Ibrahim Amadou is also sidelined long-term with a calf problem.

Angers confirmed starting lineup (4-4-2): Bernardoni (GK) — Bamba, Blazic, Hountondji, Doumbia — Abdelli, Bentaleb, Mendy, Capelle — Sima, Hunou.

Angers subs (9): Borne (GK), Camara, Taibi, Raolisoa, Thioub, El Melali, Salama, Boufal, Bahoya.

???? La composition de vos Scoïstes pour affronter le @PSG_inside dans une heure ! #PSGSCO pic.twitter.com/OvF926aMVi

— Angers SCO (@AngersSCO) January 11, 2023

How to watch PSG vs Angers

	Date	Time	TV channel	Streaming
USA	Wed, Jan. 11	15:00 ET	beIN Sports, beIN Espanol	fuboTV, beIN Connect
UK	Wed, Jan. 11	20:00 GMT	BT Sport 2	BT Sport site/app
Australia	Thu, Jan. 12	07:00 AEST	beIN Sport 3	beIN Connect, Kayo Sports
Canada	Wed, Jan. 11	15:00 ET	beIN Sports, beIN Sports Espanol	fuboTV, beIN Connect
India	Thu, Jan. 12	01:30 IST	—	Sports18, Voot Select
New Zealand	Thu, Jan. 12	09:00 NZST	—	beIN Connect
Malaysia	Thu, Jan. 12	04:00 MT	beIN Sports	beIN Connect
Singapore	Thu, Jan. 12	04:00 SST	beIN Sports	beIN Connect, StarHub TV+
Hong Kong	Thu, Jan. 12	04:00 HKST	beIN Sports 2	beIN Connect, Now Player

UK: Wednesday's match between PSG and Angers from Parc des Princes in Paris will be broadcast in the United Kingdom by BT Sport, with streaming also available.

USA: Ligue 1 is broadcast all season long in the United States by beIN Sports, which is available to stream via fuboTV.

Canada: Ligue 1 is broadcast all season long in Canada by beIN Sports, which is available to stream via fuboTV.

Australia: Ligue 1 is broadcast all season long in Australia by beIN Sports, with this particular match available on both television and online streaming.

PSG vs Angers betting odds & lines

Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Neds (Australia).

PSG understandably are enormous favorites as the league leaders and Champions League contenders take on last-place Angers.

In addition, the total goals over is inflated to 3.5, and even higher in some places, with PSG expected to score in droves as Lionel Messi and Neymar return to the lineup. Interestingly, however, Angers are thought to be a good bet to score themselves, as the PSG defensive unit struggles with injuries.

	BetMGM	SportsInteraction	SkyBet	Neds
PSG win	-750	1.13	1/9	1.13
Draw	+825	8.35	17/2	8.50
Angers win	+1800	15.00	18/1	15.00
Both teamsto score Y / N	-110 / -130	1.82 / 1.79	10/11, 4/5	1.87 / 1.83
Over / Under3.5 goals	-145 / +105	1.71 / 2.11	4/6, 11/10	1.67 / 2.05
PSG -2.5	-115	1.98	—	—
Angers +2.5	-125	1.80	—	—