Paris St Germain (PSG) took a commanding stride towards securing their record 11th French title by dismantling AC Ajaccio 5-0 in a resounding victory at their home ground. The defeat resulted in AC Ajaccio’s relegation to Ligue 2, amplifying the woes faced by Lionel Messi amidst a contentious atmosphere at the Parc des Princes.
Messi, who was included in the starting lineup following a club-imposed suspension for his absence from training, encountered hostile reactions from the fans both prior to and during the match. The one-sided encounter propelled PSG to a commanding 81 points with only three games remaining, courtesy of goals scored by Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, a brace from Kylian Mbappe, and an own goal by Mohamed Youssouf. The triumph solidified PSG’s position at the top of the table, leading second-placed RC Lens by a significant six-point margin. Despite being reduced to 10 men, RC Lens managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Stade de Reims in a gripping encounter on Friday.
AC Ajaccio currently languish in the 18th position with a mere 23 points, trailing 16th-placed AJ Auxerre by a considerable 11-point gap. The conclusion of the season will see the bottom four clubs in Ligue 1 facing relegation to lower divisions.
The match concluded with both teams reduced to 10 men as Hakimi and Ajaccio’s Thomas Mangani were sent off during the late stages of the game. The Parc des Princes reverberated with boos and jeers from the crowd upon the announcement of Messi’s name in the lineup, intensifying when the Argentine superstar first made contact with the ball.
In a related development, Messi’s return to training on Monday followed a suspension imposed by the club due to an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, resulting in his absence from a training session. French media outlets reported a two-week suspension for Messi, as he embarked on the trip despite the team’s scheduled training session the day after their 3-1 defeat to Lorient last month. On May 5, Messi offered his apologies to PSG and his teammates for his actions.
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