MAURO ICARDI

(AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) (Jeremias Gonzalez)PARIS — (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain's 13-point lead midway through the season is far less comfortable than it appears. Angers gave away a late penalty for handball and the prolific Mbappe scored an 87th-minute winner. PSG has also conceded soft late goals, allowing Bordeaux to pull back to 3-2. PSG trailed 1-0 at last-place Saint-Etienne and needed two late goals — including another one in injury time — to win 3-1 against 10 players. The alarming signs of PSG's struggles were magnified when it drew 1-1 at 19th-place Lorient in the 19th round.

Paris Saint-Germain’s 13-point lead midway through the season is far less comfortable than it appears.

France Soccer League One PSG's Lionel Messi reacts after missing a chance during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon at the Parc des Princes in Paris Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. Messi stared sharply at PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino and appeared to snub a handshake as he came off. On the field, Icardi found space to head in Kylian Mbappe's precise cross from the left in the 93rd. Neymar equalized from the penalty spot in the 66th after he was fouled by 18-year-old right back Malo Gusto. Four minutes later, Lopes was stuck to the spot as Messi hit the crossbar with a free kick from 25 meters.

Lionel Messi hit the crossbar with a curling free kick and looked angry at being taken off in the 75th minute in his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS – Paris Saint-Germain withstood early pressure from a much-improved but wasteful Barcelona side to draw 1-1 on Wednesday and reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Neymar and Messi tormented PSG that night, but there was to be no reply this time. Navas then tipped Sergino Dest’s drive onto the crossbar as Barcelona opened PSG up with its passing and movement. Incessant pressure led to a penalty for Barcelona, again following a VAR check, when Kurzawa was adjudged to have impeded Griezmann. With that miss, some of the belief seemed to sap from Barcelona and the second half was more even.

Icardi joined PSG on a season's loan and had impressed with 20 goals in 31 games when the league season was stopped because of the coronavirus pandemic. PSG took up its option to buy the 27-year-old Icardi and gave him a contract until June 2024. Cavani was linked with a move to Atltico Madrid during the January transfer window but PSG reportedly turned down an offer of 15 million euros from the Spanish club. No financial details were given by PSG about how much Icardi cost, but Italian media reported the transfer as costing 50 million euros ($55.5 million) with additional bonuses. Many observers were circumspect when he joined PSG on loan at the end of the summer transfer window.