Former Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo has suffered his first defeat in Ligue 1 since taking over at Troyes.

His side went down 2-0 at home to third-placed Marseille on Wednesday, with Chancel Mbemba and Jordan Veretout netting the visitors' goals.

Kisnorbo, who played 18 times for the Socceroos when based in the UK during his playing days with Hearts, Leicester City, Leeds United and Ipswich Town, had begun his stint as the first Australian to coach in one of Europe's 'big five' leagues with a draw and a win.

"Marseille is a great team that plays good football. We still have a long way to go to a higher level, but since my arrival, I am already very proud of the evolution," Kisnorbo said.

"All the teams are strong in this Ligue 1 championship. I am still new here and we are getting there little by little. There is still a lot to improve, especially on the way we want to play."

Troyes remain 13th in the standings, four points above the relegation zone after 18 rounds, and 29 points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain who recorded a 2-0 home win over bottom-of-the-table Angers.

PSG extended their lead at the summit thanks to goals at the Parc des Princes from Hugo Ekitike and Lionel Messi - the Argentine's first at club level since lifting the World Cup.

Nearly four weeks after the final against France in Qatar, Messi needed only five minutes to make an impact. He turned neatly near the penalty area and threaded a pass to right back Nordi Mukiele, whose cross was turned in by 20-year-old forward Ekitike.

Messi then started the move that led to his 72nd-minute goal, with Ekitike and Mukiele combining quickly to put him through before he side-footed home. His eighth league goal this season was initially disallowed for offside but then awarded following a video review.

Second-placed Lens stumbled to a 2-2 draw at 19th-placed Strasbourg, leaving a six-point gap at the top.

Rennes lost pace in fourth going down 2-1 at Clermont Foot and are now level on points with Monaco who needed an added-time equaliser from Wissam Ben Yedder to draw 2-2 at sixth-placed Lorient.

Nice scored the biggest win of the night by thrashing Montpellier 6-1, while Toulouse hammered Auxerre 5-0.

Elsewhere, Reims beat Ajaccio 1-0 with Lille and Lyon held to scoreless draws by Brest and Nantes.

With AP.