Paris too strong for OM: despite the rapid expulsion of Lucas Beraldo and the very discreet performance of Kylian Mbappé, PSG won 2-0 on Sunday at the Stade Vélodrome against Marseille, valiant despite the injuries but too clumsy. Paris scored its two goals on the counter-attack and it’s a good summary of the match, which OM suffered less than one could imagine but which Luis Enrique’s men logically won thanks to superior talent.
Mbappé starts for what should be his last Classic
The Spanish technician had the mysterious Saturday press conference but he had finally chosen to field a typical team, or almost, with Mbappé holder and captain for what should be his last “Classic”. With this success, Paris maintains its very considerable lead in the lead – 12 points margin over Brest, and can calmly turn towards its other deadlines, the semi-final of the Coupe de France on Wednesday against Rennes and, of course, its quarter Champions League final against Barcelona.
Beaten for the second time in a row in L1 after a small rebound with the arrival of Jean-Louis Gasset, OM remain 7th after what is their first home defeat of the season. To console themselves, the Marseillais only have setbacks this weekend from Nice, Lens and Rennes, their competitors for the second-tier European Cup, the Top 4 and the Champions League now seeming inaccessible.
A record attendance with more than 66,000 spectators announced
Marseille, however, was not ridiculous on Sunday and the Vélodrome, which broke an attendance record with more than 66,000 spectators announced, was even able to really believe in the chances of his team when Beraldo was severely sent off in the 40th minute for a foul on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and after an intervention by the VAR. Even before the Brazilian’s exit, OM had been up to the task, while the avalanche of injuries suffered during the break and a baroque starting 11 – Luis Henrique starting, the left-handed Ulisses Garcia on the right side – could make people fear the worst to the Marseille supporters, who set off real fireworks at kick-off.
But faced with a Marseille defense of odds and ends, neither Mbappé, almost as discreet as Tuesday in the same place with the Blues, nor Randal Kolo Muani, exiled far to the right, were really dangerous. Placed in real number 10, and even a little lower, Ousmane Dembélé for his part had the best Parisian opportunity of the first period with a luminous slalom concluded by a sinister strike (30th).
Marseille for its part was dangerous with strikes from Aubameyang (14th) or Jordan Veretout (16th), but in a violent wind and in pouring rain, the technical waste was then significant on both sides, which is more excusable for OM than for PSG.
Lack of efficiency among the Marseillais
But the second period in Paris was much more precise and the match turned after the injury to Chancel Mbemba, yet another hard blow in OM’s struggling season. Just after, Paris in fact struck against Vitinha, at the start and conclusion of the action (1-0, 53rd). A few minutes later, a goal from Veretout was severely refused for an offside by Luis Henrique (59th), then Mbappé came out under a deluge of rain and whistles (65th).
Normally, the Blues striker will no longer see the Vélodrome in the Parisian jersey, but he left with a victory since Gonçalo Ramos doubled the lead in the 85th minute after a new counter well led by Achraf Hakimi and Marco Asensio .
Marseille did have a few opportunities, but wasted them due to lack of quality or efficiency, like Amine Harit, who struck Gianluigi Donnarumma several times. In a difficult season, OM did not find the comfort of a victory against the old rival who, for his part, continues his road towards his dreams of national and European titles.