Ligue 1: Hakimi's Brace Keeps PSG's Form In Messi's Absence

Achraf Hakimi's dramatic injury-time winner rescued Paris Saint-Germain, giving them a 2-1 victory at bottom club Metz on Wednesday as the capital giants maintained their 100 per cent start to the Ligue 1 season despite the absence of the injured Lionel Messi.

Moroccan full-back Hakimi, a 60-million-euro signing from Inter Milan this year, gave PSG a fifth-minute lead before Kiki Kouyate's equaliser.

But a chaotic climax to the match saw Metz reduced to 10 men and have their coach Frederic Antonetti sent to the stands before Hakimi's 94th-minute strike.

PSG went into the new season as red-hot favourites to regain their French title after a raft of close-season signings, including six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi.

The former Barcelona icon was absent with a knee injury and Mauricio Pochettino's men struggled against Metz.

But PSG extended their early advantage at the top of the table to seven points over rivals Marseille who drew 0-0 at third-placed Angers after a seventh victory from as many league games.

Hakimi pounced early on but PSG were far from their best and Kouyate headed home from a corner six minutes before the break.

Visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make a good save to deny Lamine Gueye a goal on the stroke of half-time, while Metz's appeal for a penalty for handball against Hakimi early in the second period was turned down.

The real drama came after the clock had ticked past the 90th minute, though, as Metz defender Dylan Bronn was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Coach Antonetti was then promptly dismissed.

PSG made the most of their brief man advantage as Hakimi latched onto Neymar's excellent pass, cut inside and fired into the bottom corner.

Paris, champions in seven of the last nine seasons, celebrated wildly, with Neymar booked in the aftermath.

LILLE GET ONLY THE SECOND WIN

Struggling Ligue 1 champions Lille held on to beat Reims 2-1 to claim just their second win of the season.

Canada forward Jonathan David put the hosts ahead at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy just after the half-hour mark and midfielder Benjamin Andre doubled the advantage before the break with his first goal of the campaign.

Lille, who saw title-winning coach Christophe Galtier leave in the close season for Nice, came through a nervy final 15 minutes after Alexis Flips' penalty cut the deficit for Reims.

Monaco are above Lille on goal difference after also sealing their second league win this term by seeing off 10-man Saint-Etienne 3-1.

In a Ligue 1 first, Monaco made six substitutes due to the new concussion protocols as Krepin Diatta had to be replaced after a clash of heads with Yvan Neyou.

Elsewhere, Rennes bounced back from three straight losses by thrashing Clermont 6-0, while Nigerian Samuel Kalu rescued Bordeaux a 3-3 draw at Montpellier.