Lionel Messi (C) of PSG controls the ball during the Ligue 1 match between PSG and Toulouse FC at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, February 4, 2023. /CFP
Lionel Messi scored a superb second-half winner as a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) side missing the injured Kylian Mbappe and Neymar came from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1 on Saturday and consolidate their lead at the top of Ligue 1.
Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen gave mid-table Toulouse the lead at the Parc des Princes from a 20th-minute free-kick, only for Achraf Hakimi to curl in the equalizer with half-time approaching.
Messi then put PSG in front just before the hour mark with a glorious first-time strike on his left foot low into the corner of the net from just outside the area.
It was Messi's 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season and his 15th for his club this campaign, as the World Cup winner stepped up in the absence of PSG's two other superstar attackers.
"Leo is holding the team together," PSG coach Christophe Galtier told broadcaster Amazon Prime.
"It is not just two players we are missing. There are Kylian and 'Ney' but also Marco Verratti and Sergio Ramos," he added.
"He takes on the role of leader naturally, and he did so in midweek too. He was so important to the way we played. He takes the initiative. We need to give him the ball even more."
James Tarkowski (R) of Everton celebrates his goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England, February 4, 2023. /CFP
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said his team must now show the resolve of champions after a shock 1-0 defeat to Everton dented the Gunners' bid to land a first Premier League title in 19 years.
Arsenal still lead Manchester City by five points at the top of the table, but blew the chance to extend that advantage as they suffered just a second league defeat of the season.
James Tarkowski headed in the winning goal for the Toffees on the hour mark as Everton made a perfect start to life under new manager Sean Dyche to climb out of the relegation zone.
"This is not going to be a rose pathway," said Arteta of Arsenal's road to the title. "This is going to be tricky and we will have to dig in and play much better than we did today."
(With input from AFP)