PSG fans BOO Lionel Messi before their defeat against Rennes
PSG fans BOO Lionel Messi before their defeat against Rennes amid frustrations with his performance in Champions League loss to Bayern Munich… as the Argentina captain’s 26-game unbeaten league run at the Parc des Princes finally comes to an end
- Paris Saint-Germain fans show their frustration by booing Lionel Messi
- Supporters aim Champions League disappointment at Messi before kick-off
- PSG lost 2-0 to Rennes to end their long 35-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1
Lionel Messi’s name was booed by disgruntled Paris Saint-Germain fans ahead of the French league leaders’ home defeat to Rennes on Sunday.
Goals from Karl Toko Ekambi and Arnaud Kalimuendo inflicted defeat on PSG’s all-star team, but fans showed their frustration towards the World Cup winner following his performance in the Champions League exit to Bayern Munich earlier this week.
As Messi’s name was read out and shown on the screen before the game, audible boos could be heard aimed at the 35-year-old.
Having joined the club in 2021, Messi was looked upon as the final piece in the puzzle to see PSG finally land the Champions League.
But with their elimination and Messi’s out of contract at the end of the campaign, it may have been the Argentinian’s last chance to help deliver the famous trophy.
Lionel Messi was jeered by PSG fans before their 2-0 home defeat to Rennes on Sunday
It defeat ended PSG’s long unbeaten run at home in the league, stretching back 35 matches
The defeat was the first time PSG have suffered a home loss in the league under boss Christophe Galtier, ending their 35-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes.
The French side had won 35 points from a possible 39 at home before the weekend defeat, in a run that included 16 wins and three wins on home soil under Mauricio Pochettino last season.
They remain seven points clear at the top of the table, with nearest challengers Marseille beating Remis on Sunday, but frustrations were aimed their talisman, with the league the only trophy available to them for the remainder of the season.
Messi hadn’t lost a single home league game with the Parisians, a record that stretched over 700 days.
This season he has notched 18 goals in 31 games for PSG this season but fans were disappointed with the World Cup winner’s performance against Rennes.
However, according to stats from Sofascore, Messi’s display didn’t warrant the negative response from he received from the home fans.
The Argentine superstar had 87 touches during the game, with which he created two big chances and produced five key passes. Messi also had four shots – two which were on target – and three successful dribbles.
One of Messi’s key passes produced one of PSG’s best chances of the game, when his deep pass found Kylian Mbappe, but Mbappe’s shot was saved by Rennes keeper Steve Mandanda.
Despite the reaction from the frustrated PSG fans Messi’s stats proved he’d been one of PSG’s best players on the night
Lionel Messi tasted defeat at home in the league for the first time since he joined PSG
Kim Kardashian was in the stands watching her second big European game of the weelk.
The former French stopper was in fine form for the visitors and also stopped Mbappe’s chipped effort midway through the first half and then kept his team in the game by saving Marco Verratti’s goal-bound shot.
Rennes, who won the reverse fixture in Brittany two months ago, pulled off the win in front of a watching Kim Kardashian who made her second appearance of the week at a big European fixture.
She had already taken in Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday, a match which saw the Gunners eliminated from the competition following a penalty shootout defeat to the Portuguese, and was again on hand to see a surprise home defeat from one of Europe’s table toppers.
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