Lionel Messi scored a sensational bicycle-kick goal as Paris St Germain began the defense of their Ligue 1 title with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Clermont at the Stade Gabriel Montpied on Saturday.
Messi netted a brace to go with goals from Neymar, Achraf Hakimi and Marquinhos as they followed up last weekend's 4-0 Trophée des Champions victory over Nantes with another easy win.
MESSI STOP THAT! #CF63PSG | #Ligue1 pic.twitter.com/Q8fu1JfWRN
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) August 6, 2022
¡GOL DE MESSI!
Neymar asiste y el argentino pone el 0️⃣-4️⃣Disfruta el Clermont vs. PSG en vivo por beIN SPORTS Ñ.#Ligue1 | #CF63PSG pic.twitter.com/WMYmvhNTUX
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) August 6, 2022
It took only nine minutes for them to get in front as Messi brilliantly flicked the ball into the path of Neymar, who finished an excellent move.
¡GOL DE NEYMAR!
Sublime asistencia de Messi para que el brasileño abra el marcadorDisfruta el Clermont vs. PSG en vivo por beIN SPORTS Ñ.#Ligue1 | #CF63PSG pic.twitter.com/MqpdhmNF1u
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) August 6, 2022
Hakimi scored midway through the first half from a lightening counter-attack, before Marquinhos headed Neymar's free-kick into the net.
¡HAKIMI!
Bombazo del marroquí para finalizar una jugada de combinación Messi-NeymarDisfruta el Clermont vs. PSG en vivo por beIN SPORTS Ñ.#Ligue1 | #CF63PSG pic.twitter.com/5rEHxwG6Rd
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) August 6, 2022
¡GOL DEL PSG!
Marquinhos marca el 0️⃣-3️⃣ con asistencia de NeymarDisfruta el Clermont vs. PSG en vivo por beIN SPORTS Ñ.#Ligue1 | #CF63PSG pic.twitter.com/iUYPNDs06r
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) August 6, 2022
Neymar then provided a fourth for Messi, before the Argentine forward capped off an excellent performance with a stunning goal, chesting a pass from Leandro Paredes and providing a bicycle-kick finish.
Earlier, Monaco won 2-1 at Racing Strasbourg after the home side had a last gasp equalizer ruled out by VAR.
Monaco, who play away in the Champions League preliminary round against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, went 2-0 up through Krépin Diatta and Sofiane Diop before Habib Diallo pulled one back in the 65th minute. Diallo thought he had another, two minutes into stoppage time, when he headed home but teammate Alexander Djiku was found to be offside as he made the assist and the strike was ruled out to hand Monaco victory.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Christian Radnedge)