W. Zaïre-Emery has scored a goal for PSG! Assist by A. Hakimi.
Hakimi gets his head up and spots Zaire-Emery making the overlapping run down the right.
ZAIRE-EMERY SCORES! And that should do it for PSG! He has acres of space down the right and he leisurely makes the run into the box. When nobody closes him down, he fires a low shot past Lecomte at the near post and seals the three points for his side. 3-1 PSG!
89'
A. Nordin has scored a goal for Montpellier! Assist by S. Mavididi.
The ball bounces back off Mavididi and straight into Nordin's path.
NORDIN PULLS ONE BACK! Bernat looks to have cut out Montpellier's attack, but his loose touch gifts it straight back to the hosts. Nordin slides it into Mavididi, who runs straight into Marquinhos. The ball bounces back to Nordin, who takes the shot first time, curling it around the defender in front of him and past a static Donnarumma into the bottom corner. 2-1!
85'
E. Tchato enters the game and replaces F. Sacko.
Final change for the hosts now. Sacko just pulled up holding his hamstring a few moments ago. Mbiayi comes on in his place for the final minutes.
83'
A. Nordin enters the game and replaces J. Chotard.
K. Fayad enters the game and replaces F. Maouassa.
Another double change for Montpellier now. Chotard is the first to make way, with Nordin coming on for him.
And Maouassa, who has easily been Montpellier's biggest threat, is also taken off, with Fayad replacing him.
82'
Hakimi just can't cope with Maouassa as the wing-back surges past him again before lifting it in from the byline. It goes all the way through to Sacko, who hits his cross against the first man.
80'
Maouassa is still causing PSG a lot of problems here as he slides a dangerous throughball between the two centrebacks. Mavididi is chasing it, but he sets off too early and the flag goes up.
78'
Montpellier just can't get close to their opponents at the minute, and Esteve sloppily loses the ball to Messi on the edge of his own box. He takes on the shot from a tight angle, but it doesn't trouble Lecomte.
74'
CHANCE! Montpellier's free-kick is only half-cleared by PSG and it's recycled by Chotard, who dinks a lovely ball into the box. Mavididi brings it down and spins before firing on goal, but Marquinhos sticks out a leg to block it.
72'
L. Messi has scored a goal for PSG! Assist by Fabián Ruiz.
It's a lovely throughball from Ruiz to pick out Messi as he adds an assist to his earlier goal.
MESSI SCORES! PSG go straight down the other end, and Montpellier are caught out. Sanches switches it out to Ekitike on the left, and he cuts inside to find Ruiz, who slides it through for Messi. He peels off the back of Chotard, who didn't realise who was behind him, and the Argentinian slots his effort into the near bottom corner. 2-0 PSG!
Minute
Description
70'
Juan Bernat enters the game and replaces Nuno Mendes.
And Mendes is also making way, with Bernat on for him.
The visitors are making their final changes now. Vitinha is taken off first, with Zaire-Emery replacing him.
69'
W. Zaïre-Emery enters the game and replaces Vitinha.
PSG aren't happy with the referee, who didn't give a foul their way after Pereira was tripped. The midfielder is gesturing to the official with his boot in hand after it was taken off, and there's also a laser pointer being shined at him from the crowd.
67'
The home fans aren't happy as PSG continue to comfortably knock the ball around in front of their team. Eventually, Hakimi plays a loose pass straight to Esteve, but Montpellier can't break with it.
65'
PSG are moving it quicker on the edge of Montpellier's box now as Ruiz squares it back to Messi. He hits his low shot first time, but it deflects kindly off Jullien's heels into Lecomte's gloves.
63'
And Leroy is also making way, with Ferri on in his place.
62'
J. Ferri enters the game and replaces L. Leroy.
S. Faye enters the game and replaces V. Germain.
There's a double change for Montpellier as they continue their search for an equaliser. Germain is the first to go off, with Faye replacing him.
61'
Again, Montpellier work it nicely upfield, this time through Sacko down the right. Mendes doesn't get close to him so he curls it into the box, but it's too close to Donnarumma, who plucks it out of the air.
59'
Sanches does well to get the better of Sacko down the left and has Vitinha up with him in support. He overhits the throughball straight out of play though, and it's a chance wasted for PSG.
57'
Montpellier look to make an instant response to going behind, with Maouassa making a brilliant darting run down the left. He gets in front of Hakimi to fizz a dangerous cross in, but nobody is there for the hosts.
55'
Fabián Ruiz has scored a goal for PSG! Assist by H. Ekitike.
Ekitike was alert to get on the end of the throughball in the first place and then did well to spot Ruiz's late run into the box.
RUIZ SCORES! And this one will count! Vitinha's throughball is missed by Esteve and Ekitike sees a shot smothered at the near post. He nods it back into the middle, and Lecomte and his defenders lose the flight of the ball. It bounces through to Ruiz, who gets his leg high to poke it past Kouyate, who can't keep it out on the line. 1-0 PSG!
51'
Montpellier are dropping even deeper into their own box as they continue to block PSG's route into the box. The visitors are passing it around with now way through at the minute.
49'
PSG have come out on the front foot in this second half. Hakimi links up well with Vitinha down the right and slides it forward for the midfielder, but his cross is blocked and deflects out off him.
47'
Messi is played in through the middle, and he drags it past three Montpellier defenders to get into the left of the box. He fires a shot towards the near post, but hits the side netting.
46'
Montpellier get us back underway for the second half!
45' +5
HALF-TIME: MONTPELLIER 0-0 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN.
45' +4
Hakimi darts down the right before cutting inside and playing it to Soler before continuing his run. The Spaniard holds onto it for a second too long, and Hakimi is offside by the time he gets it.
45' +2
Still, Montpellier drop deep to defend their box, and PSG's frustration is starting to show. After making another good interception, Jullien sets Savanier away on the counter, but he's tugged back by Ruiz.
45'
Maouassa wins the ball back high upfield again and plays a one-two with Leroy to open up some space down the left. He fizzes a low cross into the box which Marquinhos clears just before bring clipped by Leroy.
43'
Messi steps up to take the free-kick just outside the D, but he ends up curling it straight into the wall and Montpellier come away with it.
42'
PSG are struggling to pass their way through again, so Messi decides to take aim from range. Chotard sticks out a leg to deflect it away, but it bounces straight against Savanier's arm, and the visitors have a free-kick.
40'
Montpellier are looking to put some pressure on PSG going into the final few minutes. Sacko makes a good run down the right this time, but is bundled off it by Mendes before he can pick out a cross.
38'
It's a lovely spin from Leroy to lose Ruiz and he looks to thread it through for Germain. He gets too much on it though and Marquinhos is able to shield it back to Donnarumma.
32'
Renato Sanches enters the game and replaces Sergio Ramos.
With Ramos already off the field, Sanches is now ready to come on and take his place.
29'
Savanier steps up to take the free-kick just outside the D. He lifts his curling shot high over the wall, but there's no dip on it and he drops his head into his hands as it sails into the crowd.
27'
It's a much better break from Montpellier this time, as they play themselves out of a tight spot before going long to Mavididi. He runs into Ramos on the edge of the D, and the defender trails a leg to bring him down, giving away a free-kick.
25'
The ball gets caught under Hakimi's feet and Maouassa neatly wins it back before going long for Sacko down the wing. He's asking too much of him though, and Marquinhos brings it down.
23'
Maouassa cuts out a loose pass from Ruiz and he attempts to break down the left by playing a one-two with Savanier. Three PSG players spot the danger though, and Montpellier are crowded off the ball.
21'
H. Ekitike enters the game and replaces K. Mbappé.
Mbappe went down off the ball, and he's holding his hamstring as he makes his way off the pitch with the medical team. He goes straight down the tunnel and Ekitike is on to replace him.
19'
Another set-piece for PSG here as Messi swings in a corner this time. Pereira meets it at the front, but can't keep it down as he sends it wide of the near post.
17'
It's a poor free-kick from Messi on the left, but Vitinha recycles it on the right and clips a good cross to the far post. Ramos rises highest, but can't direct his thumping header on target.
15'
PSG are back to dominating possession, but Montpellier are still keeping their shape well. Mbappe tries to advance down the left but goes down under a shove from Leroy.
11'
Danilo Pereira gets yellow.
Savanier was getting away through the middle, and Pereira couldn't get close. He tugged his arm back and is shown a yellow card.
10'
Penalty saved by B. Lecomte!
SAVED AGAIN! Mbappe steps up again and he goes the opposite way this time. Again, Lecomte guesses right and he gets fingertips to the ball to help it onto the post, and from the rebound, Mbappe volleys the ball high over the empty net. Still 0-0!
8'
IT'S SAVED! Mbappe is standing over the ball for a long time before the referee's whistle eventually goes. He takes a slow run-up to the spot when he gets the go-ahead, firing it to the left of the goal and Lecomte stretches to tip it wide. But, VAR is having a look at this...
7'
C. Jullien gets yellow.
Jullien picks up a yellow card for that challenge on Ramos and is the first to go into the referee's book.
6'
This time, Vitinha does manage to slide a throughball into Mbappe on the edge of the box. He spins away from Chotard but loses control of the ball and Jullien clears his lines.
4'
PSG are keeping the ball well up until the final third. Montpellier are staying strong defensively and looking to break quickly on the counter, but Ramos steps in to cut off Sacko's run.
2'
It's a bright start from Montpellier, with Savanier winning the ball back on the halfway line. It's switched out to Leroy on the opposite flank, and he sees two crosses blocked in the box before Germain nearly nicks it off Ramos.
1'
Mbappe gets the game underway for PSG!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Ligue 1 meeting between Montpellier and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade de la Mosson!
PSG currently sit three points clear at the top of the table, and results in recent weeks have seen the gap getting smaller. They've won just two of their five league games since the restart after the World Cup (D1 L2) and followed up a 1-0 loss to Rennes by conceding a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Reims on Sunday. As for Montpellier, they have a five-point cushion over the teams in the relegation zone as they sit in 14th. They ended a four-match losing run in all competitions last time out when they beat Auxerre 2-0.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN STARTING XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Danilo Pereira, Fabian Ruiz; Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Carlos Soler.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBS: Timothee Pembele, Hugo Ekitike, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Ismael Gharbi, Ilyes Housni, Sergio Rico, Warren Zaire-Emery, Juan Bernat, Renato Sanches.
The teams are out on the pitch now, with kick-off just moments away!
PSG's frustration became clearer as the half went on. They lost Mbappe and Ramos to injury, and despite dominating, their only shot on target was Mbappe's saved penalty. He'll be looking for more after the break. Montpellier stood their ground well, and Pitau will be pleased with their defensive work, but they need to take more risks if they want to cause an upset.
MONTPELLIER STARTING XI (3-5-2): Benjamin Lecomte; Kiki Kouyate, Christopher Jullien, Maxime Esteve; Teji Savanier, Faitout Maouassa, Joris Chotard, Falaye Sacko, Leo Leroy; Valere Germain, Stephy Mavididi.
That's PSG's first away win of 2023, and it takes them five points clear of Marseille at the top of Ligue 1. Next up for them is Toulouse at the weekend. Montpellier suffer their fourth consecutive home defeat against PSG in the competition, and it means they stay in 14th. Next up for them is a trip to Strasbourg.
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