Marseille, October 25 (BNA): Lionel Messi’s first “classic” ended with a 10-player draw between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
The stalemate between the two arch-rivals has reduced Paris Saint-Germain’s lead over Lens at the top of the French Ligue 1 to seven points after 11 rounds, the Associated Press reported.
Paris Saint-Germain played with ten men after Achraf Hakimi was sent off in the 56th minute at the Velodrome in the biggest traditional match in French football. Hakimi downed Genghis Ender in a counterattack.
Messi almost hit a shot shortly before the end of the first half when his left-footed shot from outside the area went wide and he blocked him with a close-range header in the 25th minute.
The video assistant referee ruled out a goal for offside in the first half – Marseille defender Louan Perez’s own goal in the 14th minute after Neymar’s shot and Arcadius Milik’s low shot in the 21st minute.
Messi is the all-time top scorer in the Spanish “El Clasico” matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with 26 goals. Hosts Barcelona played their first Clasico without Messi on Sunday, losing 2-1 at home to Madrid.
In other Ligue 1 matches, winger Wesley Said scored a brace in the first half to lead Lens to a 4-1 victory over Metz.
Lens was also scored by Ignatius Janago and Przemyslav Frankowski.
Nice beat Lyon 3-2 and are third in the standings, two points behind Lens.
Also on Sunday, Monaco beat Montpellier 3-1 and Rennes enjoyed a 1-0 home win over Strasbourg. Lorient and Bordeaux tied 1-1, Troyes won 2-1 in Reims.
And on Saturday, defending champion Lille dropped more points after a 1-1 draw with Brest.