Argentine talisman Lionel Messi’s first goal for French giants Paris Saint Germain came against his former manager Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in Tuesday’s Champions League fixture. The 34-year-old’s first club goal in a non-Barcelona shirt helped his side triumph 2-0 and go on top of the Group A table. 

Messi had started for PSG three times in the four games he featured in. The former Catalan captain was not a part of the French squad during their recent wins against Metz and Montpellier through injury. He returned to Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up for the City game. 

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Messi, who was due to open his PSG account, executed a emphatic counter-attack alongside Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman at the edge of the box gave Messi a return pass only to see the six-time Ballon d’Or winner issue a super strike in the top-right corner with 16 minutes left on the clock. 

Watch Messi’s first goal for PSG:

It was midfielder Idrissa Gueye who put the hosts 1-0 up early on at the Parc des Princes with an emphatic finish from close range. The Senegal national thumped the ball into the top corner after Neymar’s scuffed shot fell to him just inside the penalty area following Mbappe’s cross from the right.

However, Messi’s goal was the main highlight of the game. 

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“I’m very happy to have scored. I’ve not been playing much recently and I’m adapting to my teammates little by little. The more we play together the better it will become. We need to grow together and increase our level,” Messi said after the game.

This was Messi’s 673rd goal in the top European contest. Paris Saint Germain ended Manchester City’s 18-match unbeaten run in the Champions League group-stage matches. 

Meanwhile, Spanish giants Real Madrid were left stunned on as they were beaten by a little-known club Sheriff at the Santiago Bernabeu. The minnows beat the 13-time champions 2-1.