The top two teams in the French championship this season met in one of the country's most heated rivalries in more than 50 years. A gap had formed in the standings between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille before their meeting, but their fundamental struggle is always interesting to follow. Today's game was no exception to the rule.
From the very beginning of the match, the “Provencals” began to create danger near the territory of Gianluigi Donnarumma. The first opportunity arose already in the 2nd minute after a direct free kick from Amin Gouiri, but the Italian goalkeeper coped with it very easily. The hosts tried to quickly take possession of the ball, which they eventually succeeded in, this is “PSG”.
The first 15 minutes of the game were very intense. Overall, the match was very intense, but with a minimum of dangerous moments from both teams. Most of the Parisians' shots were blocked by Marseille's defenders, but the “red-blues” still managed to open the scoring first as a result of a quick vertical attack from their own goal. Already in the 17th minute, Ousmane Dembele scored. The Frenchman quite easily dealt with Geronimo Rulli in the “white-blues'” penalty area and calmly sent the ball into the net. This goal was the PSG forward's 21st goal in the current Ligue 1 season.
Towards the end of the first half, the Parisians scored for the second time. Nuno Mendes closed the pass from Fabian Ruiz, who gave his second assist in this match. It is also worth noting that this attack began in the 42nd minute thanks to the efforts of Achraf Hakimi, who noticed the Spanish midfielder’s run and made a wonderful through ball in his direction.
Serious gaps in the defense of the “Provencals” prevented them in this game. The first half of the match ended with practically no chances for the guests. But in the second half, a similar gift was given to Roberto De Zerbi's charges by PSG itself. In the 51st minute, Nuno Mendes made a mistake in the center of the field, giving the ball to the opponent. Adrien Rabiot picked up the ball and dragged it into the penalty area, passing at the last moment to Amine Gouiri, who powerfully hammered the leather one into the goal net. Although not for long, the intrigue returned to the match after the guests took advantage of their opponents' mistake. It was more interesting to follow how the events unfolded on the Parc des Princes lawn.
After conceding a goal, Luis Enrique's team tried to quickly restore the two-goal advantage. The hosts managed to create several moments that could truly be called dangerous. First, in the 60th minute, Dembele decided to take responsibility and shoot at the goal, but the ball hit the post. Later, Warren Zaire-Emery was almost one-on-one with Rulli, but the Argentine goalkeeper saved his team in this episode. PSG players continued to attack and eventually achieved their goal. In the 76th minute, Paul Lirola, who came on as a substitute in the second half, unsuccessfully cut a cross from Hakimi into his own goal. The ending was calm, so in the end, this match ended for PSG with a seventh consecutive victory in matches against Marseille in Ligue 1. Roberto De Zerbi did not pass the test.
Paris Saint-Germain moved closer to the Ligue 1 title this season thanks to this victory. Luis Enrique's team has 68 points after 26 games in the French championship. The gap between Marseille and the Parisians in the standings has increased to 19 points, and now the Provencals will have to focus on maintaining second place.
League 1. Round 26
Stadium: Parc des Princes (Paris)
Referee: Clement Turpin (France)
PSG – Marseille 3:1
Goals: Dembele (17), Mendes (42), Lirola (ag, 76) – Gouiri (51)
PSG: Donnarumma – Mendes, Pacho, Beraldo, Hakimi – Ruiz, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery (Barcola, 64) – Kvaratskhelia (L. Hernandez, 80), Dembele (Lee Kang-in, 80), Douai (Neves, 72)
Marseille: Rulli – Cornelius, Luis Felipe (Lirola, 63), Balerdi – Dedic (Merlin, 63), Kondogbia (Bakola, 89), Rongier (Maupay, 84), Luis Enrique – Rabiot, Nadir (Greenwood, 63) – Gouiri
Warning: Mendes (26)
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