A mediocre Paris Saint-Germain defeated Toulouse 2-1 to pull eight points clear atop the French league on Saturday thanks to a goal from Lionel Messi in the second half.
After a play with Moroccan right back Achraf Hakimi, the superstar scored in the 57th minute to tie the score for PSG late in the first half after free kick expert Branco van den Boomen gave Toulouse the lead in the 20th.
Kylian Mbappé and Neymar were both sidelined, so PSG was forced to rely heavily on Messi, who hit the post in stoppage time.
Following a left thigh tear, Mbappé will be sidelined for at least three weeks. Neymar missed his second consecutive game while undergoing treatment for a painful adductor. Renato Sanches of Portugal suffered a thigh injury and left the game in the 13th minute, adding to PSG’s injury difficulties.
PSG had dropped two and drawn one of its previous five games when Van den Boomen’s right-footed free kick sailed past Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was stranded, and into the left corner, giving the opposition the lead in the 20th minute.
After Marquinhos headed Messi’s corner off the post, PSG drew level in the 38th with a beautiful 20-meter strike from Hakimi.
Late games featured inconsistent Lyon playing at lowly Troyes and fifth-placed Rennes hosting sixth-placed Lille at home.
Second-placed In order to maintain a five-point deficit over PSG going into their matchup on February 26, Marseille must defeat Nice at home on Sunday.