PSG 3-1 Monpellier: Despite Mbappe's injury, PSG win at Monpellier

PSG win at Monpellier with goals from Messi, Fabian Ruiz and first senior goal for for 16-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Kylian Mbappé had scored nine times in his previous 11 league games against Montpellier, and when Christopher Jullien pulled Sergio Ramos' shirt as the pair tussled for a Lionel Messi free-kick, the France striker had the ideal opportunity to improve on that record with just six minutes on the clock. 

Things went from bad to worse as Mbappé limped off after a tangle with Léo Leroy, the son of former PSG man Jérôme, and he was soon followed by Sergio Ramos after clashing heads with Montpellier debutant Kiki Kouyaté.

Messi had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside to cap a frustrating first-half for the visitors, who had won just two of their five games since the season restart and had seen Marseille close to within two points of them at kick-off with a 2-0 victory at Nantes earlier in the evening.

A more combative PSG emerged in the second half, and Achraf Hakimi's influence increased noticeably. The Morocco international had a goal ruled out — a fantastic long-range strike — for offside in the build-up, but was at the heart of the long-awaited opening goal: having burst into the box, his shot was saved by Lecomte, but Hugo Ekitike — Mbappé's replacement — headed the ball into the path of Fabian Ruiz to prod home his first PSG goal.

A wonderful through ball from Messi to Ekitike saw the young striker rattle a post before Ruiz did the same for Messi, who after taking a touch with his right, turned the ball beyond Lecomte with his favoured left to double the hosts' lead with his 14th goal of the season.

Messi curled a shot just wide and then saw Lecomte save another effort before Arnaud Nordin reduced PSG's advantage to one with a finely measured shot from the edge of the box.

The home fans sensed a comeback, but Warren Zaïre-Emery, who had replaced Vitinha on 70 minutes, put an end to that with the teenager — already PSG's youngest ever Ligue 1 debutant — becoming their youngest ever scorer at 16 years and 330 days in added time.