Paris Saint-Germain v RB Leipzig player ratings: Gueye 4, Messi 8, Mbappe 7; Silva 7

French side seal battling 3-2 win thanks to two goals from Argentine attacker

PSG RATINGS Keylor Navas - 7: By far the busier keeper in first half with saves from Laimer’s shot and Silva’s header before the latter left him with no chance to level for Leipzig. Regularly exposed by a very shaky defence. AP

Achraf Hakimi - 4: Out of position for first Leipzig goal as Angelino enjoyed freedom of Parc de Princes to provide cross for Silva’s goal. Then failed to close down same player before Spaniard set up Mukiele’s strike to make it 2-1. Booked in second half. Brought down for second PSG penalty. AFP

Marquinhos - 5: His pass out from back took out seven Leipzig players and set PSG away on counter-attack for Mbappe goal. But captain – and rest of his teammates at back – looked far from secure as Leipzig ripped through defence all too easily. Reuters

Presnel Kimpembe - 5: Caught out in first few minutes and as Leipzig broke through defence but Laimer couldn’t finish. Skinned by Nkunku just before break but former PSG attacker fired just wide. AP

Nuno Mendes - 5: No member of the PSG can be happy with their defensive performance and Mendes was no exception. Caught out of position on several occasions and offered little going forward. AFP

Ander Herrera - 4: Former Manchester United midfielder was another PSG player well off the pace, made no impact on game and was no surprise when substituted after 60 minutes. Reuters

Idrissa Gueye - 4: Been in fine form but failed to get grip on midfield. Booked for stupid foul on Silva on edge of box but Nkunka curled free-kick over bar. Sloppy in possession, cut an increasingly frustrated figure and rightly hooked on the hour before inevitable sending off. Getty

Marco Verratti - 8: Lovely ball to pick out Draxler in box early on but German couldn’t keep volley down. Midfield engine that suddenly came to life in second half with a series of magnificent blocks on Leipzig strikes around edge of PSG area. Outstanding for last 30 minutes. AFP

Julian Draxler - 6: German attacker in for the injured Neymar and volleyed first-time effort over bar in first 10 minutes. Supplied pass for Mbappe opener. AFP

Lionel Messi - 8: Spent most of first half doing donkey work defensively and had only one touch in Leipzig box. Levelled for PSG after 67 minutes with finish via inside of post after being teed-up by Mbappe, then produced cool Panenka penalty to make it 3-2. EPA

Kylian Mbappe - 7: Drilled PSG into lead with right-footed finish after lightning PSG counter-attack. Went quiet as service dried up until he supplied pass for Messi to level in second half and then won penalty that Messi converted after being fouled in box. Whipped his own injury-time penalty over bar. Reuters

SUBS: Georginio Wijnaldum – (On for Herrera 61’) 7: Former Liverpool midfielder hasn’t enjoyed the greatest of starts in France but PSG certainly improved when he came on here. EPA

Danilo Pereira – (On for Gueye 61’) 6: Like Wijnaldum, injected much-needed life into PSG midfield. Thilo Kehre – (On for Draxler 90’) N/A. AFP

RB LEIPZIG: Peter Gulacsi - 6: Hungarian keeper will be frustrated that he couldn’t keep out Messi’s first goal but no chance with Mbappe finish or the Argentine’s audacious penalty. Getty

Lukas Klostermann - 7: Had been immense for Leipzig, rock solid at back, made numerous important tackles and was blow to Leipzig when he limped off in second half. AP

Mohamed Simakan - 6: Booked for first-half foul on Mendes on edge of Leipzig box that PSG wasted. Clumsy push on Mbappe to give away penalty that Messi converted. Not the first and won’t be last defender to struggle with French attacker’s pace. EPA

Willi Orban - 7: Left one-on-one with Mbappe charging forward and couldn’t stop French attacker opening scoring after nine minutes. Booked for blocking same player soon after but made number of important challenges despite threat of red card hanging over him. EPA

Angelino - 8: Great service from left from former Manchester City left-back. Picked out Silva with fine ball into box but striker’s header was saved. Then produced perfect low pass across six-yard box for same player to make it 1-1. Yet another pin-point ball into middle found Mukiele to make it 2-1 after break. AFP

Nordi Mukiele - 7: First-time volleyed cross into middle should have been turned into net but Orban couldn’t get required touch on ball. Wonderful first-time finish to put Leipzig ahead. Excellent for Leipzig. AP

Tyler Adams - 6: American midfielder had been holding his own against more illustrious opponents. Some nice passing and switches of play – but first mistake gifted ball to Mbappe and led to Messi’s first goal. Booked for foul on Argentine soon after. AP

Konrad Laimer - 7: Glorious opportunity with first chance of game but Navas able to turn weak finish wide for corner. A workhorse in midfield and dominated Gueye and Herrara for first hour forcing PSG to make changes. Getty

Amadou Haidara - 6: Great ball to pick Nkunka as Leipzig launched fine counter after 40 minutes that almost saw teammate make it 2-1. Worked well down Leipzig left with Angelino. EPA

Christopher Nkunku - 7: Former PSG player has been in great scoring form for Leipzig and set-up early chance for Laimer. Brilliant skill to skip past Kimpembe and shoot just wide just before half-time. EPA

Andre Silva - 7: Prolific scorer with Eintracht Frankfurt last season had been denied by Navas and the post before making it third-time lucky with excellent first-time finish to make it 1-1. AP

SUBS: Ilaix Moriba – (On for Haidara 62’) 5: Guinean midfielder came on just as Verratti took charge of midfield for PSG and found it tough. AP

Josko Gvardiol – (On for Klostermann 70’) 5: Glanced one head wide of target, gave away penalty that Mbappe missed. AFP

Yussuf Poulsen – (On for Simakan 83’). N/A. AP

Benjamin Henrichs – (On for Angelino 83’). N/A. Reuters

Emil Forsberg – (On for Silva 83’) N/A. AP

Oct 20, 2021

Lionel Messi scored two as Paris Saint-Germain fought back to earn a 3-2 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

French attacker Kylian Mbappe put PSG in front after nine minutes, slamming into the bottom corner after a lightning-quick counter-attack.

But Mauricio Pochettino's side were a shambles defensively and the Germans deservedly levelled after an Angelino cross picked out Andre Silva who fired home just before the half-hour mark.

Five-star Manchester City outclass Brugge to get back on track in Champions League

Leipzig found themselves in front after 57 minutes when another fine Angelino ball into the middle was finished superbly by Nordi Mukiele.

Things were looking grim for the Ligue 1 outfit until Messi, who had barely figured as an attacking threat, turned the game on its head.

First, he levelled the scores after being set-up by Mbappe, then put PSG back in front with a cool Panenka penalty after the French striker was fouled in the box.

The scoreline would have been more comfortable had Mbappe not blazed an injury-time penalty over the bar.

The French side go above Manchester City to the top of Champions League Group A on seven points.

Messi, 34, is now on 123 Champions League goals, with Leipzig the 37th team he has scored against in the competition.

You can see the player ratings from Parc de Princes in the gallery above.

Updated: October 20, 2021, 2:45 AM