PSG vs Troyes score, result: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe help champs survive scare

Simon Borg

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PSG vs Troyes score, result: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe help champs survive scare image

PSG's unbeaten run to start the season continues at 19 matches and counting, but it didn't always look like it would be the case during a wild 4-3 win over ESTAC Troyes at the Parc des Princes.

Visiting Troyes took the lead on two occasions through center forward Mama Balde and it was PSG's star attackers who salvaged the result. Neymar and Lionel Messi each scored a goal and dished out an assist to give PSG a 3-2 lead in the second half before a Kylian Mbappe penalty made it a more comfortable 4-2 advantage.

But Troyes got a late goal to make for a nervy ending in what was a shaky defensive performance by PSG, who were exposed on multiple occasions by the mid-table side.

The defending Ligue 1 champions extended their lead to five points over second-place Lens, with a big Wednesday's Champions League group stage finale coming up at Juventus. It's a must-win match to clinch the group and a top seed in the Round of 16 draw on November 7.

MORE: Why PSG need to win at Juventus on Wednesday

Messi, Neymar in form heading into World Cup

They may not have played a complete 90 minutes, but they were still head-and-shoulders above everyone else on the field in terms of quality, an ominous sign for their competition at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

With his team down 1-0 and the pressure building, Neymar was lucid enough to find teammate Carlos Soler with a delicious assist for the equalizer. Then when PSG were down 2-1 in the second half, it was Messi who took the initiative, sending a driven long-distance blast past the Troyes 'keeper.

The two connected on the momentary go-ahead goal at 3-2 with Messi feeding a darting Neymar, who finished with class. And Neymar could've had one of the greatest assists of his career had Kylian Mbappe found a way to finish his spinning backheel pass. 

What might be the most surprising aspect of their performance is that both players went the 90 minutes after playing the full match on Tuesday. Neymar (13 goals, 10 assists) and Messi (11 goals, 12 assists) don't want to come off the field — they're feeling fit, motivated, and they're coming up with game-breaking plays. Argentina and Brazil fans will be buzzing.

PSG plagued by defensive problems

It was the strong disconnect between spectacular attacking moves and defensive failings that marked PSG's subpar 2021/22 campaign. Although the team has generally looked more solid in 2022/23 under Christophe Galtier, last season's troubles seemed to reappear vs. Troyes.

"Everyone wanted to play to attack," Galtier said in the postgame press conference. "But that's not possible."

The main issues came in transition, on set pieces, and on crosses into the box. In the first situation defenders were often out of position and on their heels. On dead balls, there was a lot of standing around, and on crosses PSG defenders always looked to be second on the reaction.

How is this solved? Galtier noted that there was way too much space on the flanks, and perhaps a return to the three-man backline would help provide more cover when opponents try to go on the breakaway. Galtier had moved to the four-man backline in the last three matches.

There's also more defensive help — and an overall better balance — needed from the midfield sector. Vitinha and Carlos Soler just didn't make their presence felt on the defensive side of the ball against Troyes when the team lost the ball.

PSG vs Troyes final score

  1H 2H Final
PSG 1 3 4
Troyes 1 2 3

Goals:
TRO — Mama Balde (Ronny Lopes) — 3rd min.
PSG — Carlos Soler (Neymar) — 24th min.
TRO — Mama Balde (Wilson Odobert) - 52nd min.
PSG — Lionel Messi — 55th min.
PSG — Neymar (Lionel Messi) — 62nd min.
PSG — Kylian Mbappe (penalty) — 77th min.
TRO — Ante Palaversa — 88th min.

Lineups: 

PSG (4-3-1-2, right to left): Donnarumma — Mukiele, Ramos, Kimpembe (59' Marquinhos), Bernat (85' Mendes) — Soler (78' Sanches), 6-Verratti (85' Sarabia), Vitinha (59' Ruiz) — Neymar — Messi, Mbappe

ESTAC Troyes (5-4-1, right to left): Gallon — Thierno Balde (77' Ripart), Porozo, Palmer-Brown, Salmier, Conte (77' Larouci)  — Lopes, Chavalerin (88' Dingome), Kouame (82' Ugbo), Odobert (82' Palaversa) — Mama Balde

PSG vs Troyes live updates, highlights from Ligue 1

Final: PSG 4, Troyes 3

Full-time: It was a flashback to 2021/22 for PSG supporters with a champagne attacking group that often mesmerizes their own players, because the truth is that PSG didn't defend well in any facet of the game.

ESTAC Troyes confirmed they have a playing style they're comfortable with, and road performances like the win at AS Monaco, at Clermont, and the near result in Paris are a clear sign they can continue to do damage this season and perhaps avoid relegation.

88th min.: Goal Troyes! A corner kick into the box creates havoc with hapless defending by PSG. It's Ante Palaversa who heads home at the doorstep after the ball ricochets all over the place. It's 4-3!

83rd min.: Chance for Troyes! The visitors are not done. Gigi Donnarumma has to come up with a big save. And on the ensuing corner kick they created more danger in the PSG box. It's not been a great defensive showing by the champs. Meanwhile the subs keep rolling in (see lineups above).

77th min.: Penalty PSG! Kylian Mbappe buries it after Carlos Soler was brought down by the Troyes goalkeeper. It was a mess of a player from American defender Erik Palmer-Brown who left Soler sneak in.

67th min.: Neymar magic! He makes a run right through the heart of the Troyes defense and dishes a heel pass to Kylian Mbappe who can't finish it! What a goal that would've been.

62nd min.: Goal PSG! Another run in behind by Neymar and Messi picks him out. The Brazilian captain roofs it to give PSG their first lead of the match.

59th min.: SUBS PSG. It's Marquinhos and Fabian Silva coming in for Presnel Kimpembe and Vitinha.

55th min.: Goal PSG! Messi responds! What a blast from distance, showing he's very much in form with the World Cup looming.

52nd min.: Goal Troyes! It's Mama Balde with his second! Wilson Odobert sends the cross from the left and Mama Balde controls it back to goal, turns and fires past Presnel Kimpembe. PSG's defending exposed again.

48th min.: Chance Troyes! A fine start by the visitors as Ronny Lopes fires a left-footed blast on goal after Mama Balde took on three PSG defenders. Gigi Donnarumma stops it.

46th min.: The second half is underway. No subs from either team.

Halftime: PSG 1, Troyes 1

Halftime: A confident Troyes team took the early lead and looked like they could get a second at any point. But as the half went on, PSG's defense settled down and found away to slow the visitors in transition.

Troyes were hard to break down, but PSG found a way thanks to a run from behind by midfielder Carlos Soler. Kylian Mbappe has been quiet, and Lionel Messi has only had flashes. Expect more energy, urgency and pace from PSG after the break.

Troyes goalkeeper Gauthier Gallon is parrying several balls, but he's not trying to hold on to the ball and he's giving up rebounds. PSG could take advantage in the second half.

41st min.: Messi header! But Troyes goalkeeper Gallons stops that, too. The Troyes captain has been solid.

40th min.: Chance PSG! Neymar makes the Troyes goalkeeper work on a free kick and Nordi Mukiele gets the follow-up shot -- also stopped by the goalkeeper -- but he's offside.

35th min.: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have been quiet. No shots to speak of for either. American defender Erik Palmer-Brown and the rest of his five-man backline are on their game. But PSG are not testing them. Here's the wall they're dealing with:

24th min.: Goal PSG! Carlos Soler makes a run out of midfield and Neymar picks him out. Soler brings it down and puts it home. Excellent technique from the Spaniard. That's two goals in two matches for the midfield signing from Valencia.

21st min.: PSG's Nordi Mukiele with an arm to the face of Abdu Conte as they both went up for a header. Play has stopped but no punishment forthcoming.

19th min.: PSG has been patiently passing from side to side, looking for an opening. Sergio Ramos just lets fly from distance to test Troyes goalkeeper Gauthier Gallon but it's easily stopped.

10th min.: Troyes chance! Ronny Lopes nearly makes it 2-0 for the visitors on another transition that slices PSG wide open. The cross again came from left wingback Abdu Conte and only a last-ditch block by Nordi Mukiele prevented the Lopes shot from going on goal.

3rd min.: Goal Troyes! The visitors take the shock lead at the Parc des Princes. Troyes attack the space behind right-back Nordi Mukiele and the cross into the box was touched by Ronny Lopes for center forward Mama Balde, who blasts home the volley. Gigi Donnarumma had no chance.

And the Troyes supporters are going nuts!

1st min.: We're off. PSG immediately on the front foot as expected.

5 mins from kickoff: Look out for 17-year-old Troyes winger Wilson Odobert who has a point to prove against the club where he was formed. He apparently left in search of guarantees on a path to the first team and opted to stay at home in France despite interest from overseas. He's only two hours from his family.

30 mins from kickoff: PSG players coming out to warmups to Queen's 'We Will Rock You.'

45 mins from kickoff: Lineups are out. Marquinhos, Hakimi, and Mendes all get a break. Carlos Soler gets a start. Troyes insert Gauthier Gallon at goalkeeper and give him the captain's armband.

90 mins from kickoff: Le Parisien revealed a situation that happened years ago involving Kylian Mbappe and current Troyes manager Bruno Irles. When Mbappe was a 15-year-old at AS Monaco and Irles was a Monaco youth team coach, the player's mom had words with then Monaco sporting director and current PSG adviser Luis Campos where she threatened to leave the club with her son. 

Apparently, it ended with Mbappe training separately from Irles's team before joining Monaco's Under-19 team the following season. It was good business that Campos smoothed things over: Monaco cashed in with a near $200 million transfer fee to PSG in the summer of 2018.

2 hrs from kickoff: It finished 4-0 between PSG and Troyes in 2012/13 and one of the goals was authored by Zlatan Ibrahimovic courtesy of a pass from Nene — who's 41 today and playing for Vasco da Gama in Brazil.

2.5 hrs from kickoff: Apparently PSG are going with their third kit at home against Troyes.

4 hrs from kickoff: In other transfer news around PSG. As most would expect, Leo Messi's not going to Barcelona in January despite the rumors that surfaced this week. Also, PSG would be interested in signing Ilkay Gundogan if he doesn't extend his stay with Man City, per Relevo's Matteo Moretto.

5 hrs from kickoff: The headline story hours before kickoff is L'Equipe's report that PSG lost €370 million in 2021/22 on player wages that reached €600 million. 

MORE: When the Champions League Round of 16 draw takes place

PSG vs. Troyes lineups

Marco Verratti is back in the lineup after sitting out midweek because of a suspension. Neymar and Sergio Ramos return following their Ligue 1 suspension last weekend. Carlos Soler impressed enough in midweek to get the start today.

Although Danilo is still not fully fit from his injury, center-back Presnel Kimpembe makes his return after missing five Ligue 1 matches with a hamstring injury and gives Marquinhos a break, and taking over the captain's armband. Fullbacks Achraf Hakimi (right) and Nuno Mendes (left) also get a breather with Nordi Mukiele and Juan Bernat taking their place, respectively.

PSG starting lineup (4-3-1-2, right to left): 99-Gigi Donnarumma (GK) — 26-Nordi Mukiele, 4-Sergio Ramos, 3-Presnel Kimpembe, 14-Juan Bernat — 28-Carlos Soler, 6-Marco Verratti, 17-Vitinha — 10-Neymar — 30-Lionel Messi, 7-Kylian Mbappe

PSG subs (9): 1-Keylor Navas (GK), 25-Nuno Mendes, 2-Achraf Hakimi, 31-El Chadaille Bitshiabu, 5-Marquinhos, 18-Renato Sanches, 8-Fabian Ruiz, 19-Pablo Sarabia, 44-Hugo Ekitike

Troyes manager Bruno Irles makes just one change from his last lineup and that's at goalkeeper as Gauthier Gallon is back in the lineup. Irles will have to do without his No. 10 Florian Tardieu (foot), Lucien Agoume (thigh), and Jessy Moulin (shoulder). Ex-Manchester City player Marlos Moreno is not part of the squad, but veteran center-back Adil Rami returns and is on the bench.

Two former PSG youth products are in the starting XI as 17-year-old winger Wilson Odobert and 20-year-old right-back Thierno Balde feature.

ESTAC Troyes starting lineup (5-4-1, right to left): 30-Gauthier Gallon (GK) — 18-Thierno Balde, 2-Jackson Porozo, 4-Erik Palmer-Brown, 17-Yoann Salmier, 12-Abdu Conte — 11-Rony Lopes, 24-Xavier Chavalerin, 6-Rominigue Kouame, 29-Wilson Odobert — 7-Mama Balde

ESTAC Troyes subs (9): 1-Mateusz Lis (GK), 23-Adil Rami, 39-Yasser Larouci, 19-Andreas Bruus, 15-Ante Palaversa, 5-Tristan Dingome, 26-Papa Ndiaga Yade, 20-Renaud Ripart, 9-Ike Ugbo

MORE: How much prize money do Champions League teams take home?

PSG vs Troyes live stream, TV channel

The match will take place at 17:00 local time from the Parc des Princes in Paris. It will be the 100th consecutive sellout for the home team since the 2017/18 campaign.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
Australia Sun, Oct. 30 02:00 AEDT  — beIN Connect
Canada Sat, Oct. 29 11:00 ET beIN Sports fuboTV, beIN Connect
Hong Kong Sat, Oct. 29 23:00 HKT beIN Sports Now Player, M Plus site/app, beIN Connect
India Sat, Oct. 29 20:30 IST Sports18 Voot Select, Sports18
Malaysia Sat, Oct. 29 23:00 MYT  —  —
New Zealand Sun, Oct. 30 04:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports beIN Connect
Singapore Sat, Oct. 29 23:00 SGT beIN Xtra Star Hub Sports+
U.K. Sat, Oct. 29 16:00 BST  —  —
USA Sat, Oct. 29 11:00 ET beIN Sports fuboTV, beIN Connect

U.K.: The match will not be televised in the UK.

USA: PSG-Troyes will air on beIN Sports and beIN Sports en Espanol, which can both be streamed on fuboTV, which is available to new users with a free trial.

Canada: beIN Sports will carry the match in Canada, and fuboTV streams the channel. 

Australia: Fans in Australia will be able to stream the match live on beIN Sports Connect.

PSG vs Troyes betting odds, pick

The odds for this match are challenging to navigate given the market is heavily leaning in the direction of a lopsided PSG victory. And with Troyes having one of the leakiest defenses in the league — they've conceded in every match and at an average clip of two goals per game — another goal fest is entirely possible.

Over 3.5 total goals is not attractive at -145 odds, but one angle that might be playable: highest scoring half. PSG will be motivated to start strong and quickly put the match out of reach with that must-win Champions League clash coming up Wednesday. 

Given Troyes have been prone to conceding early goals to some of the better-quality opponents they've faced, a first-half blitz is on the cards. Picking the first half as the highest-scoring half is a risky play, but if you believe that PSG will start strong and then coast the rest of the way, it's a bet that would pay handsomely if it comes in. 

  • Pick: Highest scoring half (first half)
  • Odds: +180 (Caesars)
  • Prediction: PSG 4, Troyes 1
  USA
(Caesars)		 Canada
(Sports Interaction)		 Australia
(Ladbrokes)		 UK
(SkyBet)
PSG win -1250 1.09 1.09 1/16
Draw +900 10.00 11.00 12/1
Troyes win +2600 21.00 34.00 28/1
Over/under 3.5 goals -145/+115 1.64/2.22 1.62/2.20 4/7, 5/4
Both teams to score (Y/N) +115/-145 2.01/1.63 2.10/1.67 11/10, 4/6
PSG -2.5
(spread/handicap)		 -130 1.74 N/A N/A
Troyes +2.5
(spread/handicap)		 +100 2.06 N/A N/A

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.