Even with the weekend’s victory at Auxerre reviving their hopes of a rise into mid-table, Montpellier’s pre-match form was woeful, and they remained on the edge of this season’s extended four-team relegation zone ahead of this clash.
Returning goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, fresh from a stoppage-time penalty save in his first match back at the club last weekend, heroically stopped both Kylian Mbappé’s initial effort and a retake, in which he tipped the ball onto the post before the France international skied the rebound.
Montpellier started to threaten, and Stephy Mavididi saw a great chance saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the capital side were straight up the other end, and Ruiz turned creator with a brilliant through ball to Messi, who brilliantly slid the ball into the corner for his side’s killer second.
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Montpellier were given some hope late on against the run of play, when Arnaud Nordin skipped ahead of a defender and whipped the ball past a helpless Donnarumma.
However, their hopes of a point were quickly crushed by PSG on the counter, as Warren Zaïre-Emery got in behind and drove his shot past Lecomte.
Ultimately, it was business as usual for PSG, while Montpellier extended their home league record to six games without victory, and will be looking over their shoulder at the teams behind them.
