Messi's back! PSG winners, losers & ratings as returning World Cup winner scores in victory over Angers

At first, Lionel Messi looked offside. The Paris Saint-Germain No.10 had darted towards goal, met Nordi Mukiele's pass in stride and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the Angers net.

But the assistant raised his flag before the Argentine could properly celebrate. VAR, though, overturned the ruling, and Messi was awarded a goal on his return to club football after his heroics at Qatar 2022.

His composed finish was PSG's second goal of the night and settled his team-mates during what was, at times at least, an uneasy performance from the Ligue 1 leaders.

In truth, they never found their best against 20th-placed Angers. But an early goal, followed by a moment of magic from their star man sealed an ultimately comfortable 2-0 win.

PSG wasted little time taking the lead, carving through Angers with relative ease just five minutes in. Messi evaded two defenders before feeding Mukiele, who sprinted down the right and sent a teasing ball to the near post, which Hugo Ekitike swept into the far corner.

Messi was a consistent contributor for the remainder of the half, with the Argentine creating a golden chance for Sergio Ramos before seeing a shot of his own tipped around the post.

But it was an otherwise languid first-half showing, with the table-toppers failing to develop an attacking rhythm, and settling for a 1-0 lead at the break.

Angers gave a good account of themselves in the second half, and created a few chances. Abdallah Sima had the best, blasting over from five yards out.

But just as they appeared to be growing into the game, Messi's delicate finish changed things, adding a touch of class to a shoddy but significant win.