PSG demolish Marseille to reclaim Ligue 1 summit
Ousmane Dembele netted a brace as Paris Saint Germain overwhelmed their fierce rivals Marseille on Sunday, seizing back the Ligue 1 lead with a resounding 5-0 win at the Parc des Princes.
Dembele found the net first after only 12 minutes and doubled his tally before the break, as PSG made a bold declaration ahead of the seasons key phases.
An own goal by Facundo Medina extended the score to 3-0 shortly after the hour mark, before subs Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang in joined the scoring, allowing PSG to settle the score from their earlier 1-0 loss at the Velodrome this term.
Luis Enriques team has now secured seven consecutive league victories, yet they face ongoing pursuit from unexpected contenders Lens, who topped the table briefly on Saturday and trail by just two points.
Marseille might harbour resentment after PSG midfielder Vitinha received merely a yellow for a reckless studs up lunge on skipper Leonardo Balerdi early in the match.
Even with the challenges intensity, official Willy Delajod received no VAR prompt to examine the play. Thereafter, it was a performance befitting Europes elite.
PSG took the lead soon after when Desire Doue delivered an excellent pass to Nuno Mendes on the left flank, enabling the Portuguese full back to cross for Dembele to finish beyond Marseille custodian Jeffrey de Lange.
Matfei Safonov, selected once more over Lucas Chevalier between the PSG posts, thwarted Amine Gouiri as the Marseille forward prodded a delivery towards goal, though the home side, enjoying a full weeks rest since their previous outing, appeared energised and posed frequent threats.
De Lange pulled off a solid stop to deflect Doues low shot from an angle, but Dembele, hampered by injuries from recapturing his prior Ballon dOr level play, conjured further brilliance by evading Balerdi, shrugging off Medina, and blasting in PSGs second on 37 minutes.
Following two tight clashes this season, including PSGs penalty shootout triumph in the Champions Trophy last month after a 2-2 stalemate in Kuwait, Marseille contributed little in Paris.
Doue clipped the upright, but it was inevitable that PSG would widen the gap, with Medina accidentally nodding beyond his own goalkeeper on 64 minutes while attempting to cut out a high ball aimed at Kvaratskhelia.
The Georgian forward, newly introduced from the bench following an ankle knock recovery, claimed PSGs fourth via a stunning volley off Demebeles arcing delivery.
Lee also found the target post substitution, rifling a low effort past De Lange at the near upright to cap an outstanding evening for PSG.
Matters nearly worsened for Marseille as both Kvaratskhelia and Mendes struck the crossbar towards the end, but the harshness of this loss will trouble a side still reeling from a painful Champions League elimination just over a week prior.