Hakimi sidelined

Injured Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi watched from the stands at Parc des Princes a day after he was charged with rape by French police following accusations made by a 24-year-old woman.

Neymar was also a spectator and will not be back for the match against Bayern, while centerback Presnel Kimpembe is set to miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury.

Legend remembered

Coach Christophe Galtier lost two more defenders to injury in the second half against Nantes, with skipper Marquinhos and stand-in rightback Nordi Mukiele both having to come off.

Before the game there was a minute's applause for Just Fontaine, the legendary former France striker who scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup and who passed away on Wednesday aged 89.

Fontaine also coached PSG, leading the club to promotion to the top tier of French soccer in 1974.

The Parisians went ahead in the 12th minute, with Messi turning in a deflected low cross from Nuno Mendes to score his 13th Ligue 1 goal this season.

The unfortunate Hadjam's own-goal had PSG cruising, but a Blas shot that surprised Gianluigi Donnarumma just after the half-hour mark brought Nantes back into the game and Cameroonian forward Ganago's header made it 2-2 before the break.

PSG had also blown a two-goal lead in its last home game against Lille two weeks ago before recovering to win 4-3, and it repeated the feat on Saturday with Mbappe playing a starring role.

His assist was headed in by Danilo to make it 3-2 just before the host was awarded a penalty for a foul on Mukiele, only for a VAR check to rule that the contact had taken place outside the box.

It looked like Mbappe would be made to wait for his record before he struck right at the end with a finish on the turn.

Earlier, Lens missed the chance to climb above Marseille into second place as it drew 1-1 at home to northern rival Lille, for whom star Canada forward Jonathan David grabbed the equalizer.

                              AFP