Star attacker Lionel Messi was forced to sit out Paris Saint-Germain’s clash with Stade de Reims on Saturday night.
Christophe Galtier’s troops, of course, are currently locked in action.
After Olympique Marseille slipped to a shock defeat at the hands of Ajaccio earlier in the day, the Ligue 1 champions have made the trip to the aforementioned Reims, in the hopes of taking advantage to extend their advantage atop France’s top-flight.
To say that such efforts have thus far come up short, though, would be something of an understatement.
With 45 minutes on the clock, PSG remain deadlocked with their underdog hosts, prepping for an undermanned 2nd-half owing to the dismissal of veteran defender Sergio Ramos.
IT’S ALL KICKED OFF!
PSG’s complaints towards the referee resulted in Sergio Ramos talking himself into a red card 🟥
The champions are down to 10. pic.twitter.com/bllBPfcagU
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 8, 2022
Further up the pitch, though, it is the absence of two others which has proven most noteworthy from the perspective of the capital giants.
Whilst the former was forced to make do with a spot on the bench, Argentine icon Messi, in the midst of a scintillating spell of individual form, was nowhere to be seen on matchday at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II.
This comes with those in a position of power in Paris having not been willing to risk the wellbeing of their creator in-chief, owing to a minor calf complaint picked up versus Benfica during the week.
🚨 Lionel Messi will not play for PSG vs. Reims. Discomfort in his calf but test results are reassuring. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/wEKMaqPVe2
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 7, 2022
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