In a fiery edition of Le Classique, Paris Saint-Germain showcased their dominance with a 4-0 thrashing of arch-rivals Marseille. However, the victory was marred by an injury to their talisman, Kylian Mbappe.
Match Highlights:
The game took a dramatic turn early on when Kylian Mbappe was on the receiving end of a robust challenge from Leo Balerdi. Despite trying to play on, the French superstar had to be substituted after just 30 minutes.
PSG didn’t let the setback affect them. They were ahead within 10 minutes, courtesy of a sublime free-kick from Achraf Hakimi that left Pau Lopez with no chance.
Marseille had a golden opportunity to level the scores when Jonathan Clauss delivered a perfect cross for Vitinha. However, the Portuguese forward’s header rattled the crossbar.
The Parisians doubled their lead before half-time. Hakimi’s long-range effort was parried onto the post, and Randal Kolo Muani was there to tap in the rebound.
The second half started with PSG further stamping their authority. A pinpoint cross from Ousmane Dembélé found the head of Gonçalo Ramos, who made no mistake.
Despite their dominance, PSG had a few scares. Chancel Mbemba came close for Marseille, but his effort sailed just over the bar.
The night was sealed for PSG when Kolo Muani set up Ramos for his second and PSG’s fourth, rounding off a comprehensive victory.
Star Performer: Achraf Hakimi
Hakimi was the standout player on the night. The Moroccan international was involved in multiple goals and has now contributed to five goals in seven appearances this season. His performance further cements his reputation as one of the most lethal full-backs in the game.
Notable Stat:
Marseille’s interim manager, Jacques Abardonado, made history by becoming the first coach to make his Ligue 1 debut in Le Classique. It was a tough introduction for the former first-team coach, and it remains to be seen if he will be considered for the permanent role.
Looking Ahead:
With this victory, PSG move up to third in the Ligue 1 standings. However, the potential loss of Mbappe to injury will be a concern for them as they navigate a busy fixture schedule.
Le Classique History
The Olympique Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain football rivalry is known by two names, Le Classique and the Derby de France. This is not a rivalry born from proximity, as many are. The two teams are located in cities in different regions of France. It is, instead, a social and cultural rivalry, as Olympique Marseille represents the working class people and port city of Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain is seen as being associated with the ultimate bastion of French society and culture, Paris. It is Marseille, the power center of the south, versus Paris the capital city in the north.
The first derby between the two football clubs was played on 12 December 1971. They have met a total of 86 times. Paris Saint-Germain leads with 34 wins, while Olympique Marseille has earned 32. There have been 20 draws.
Statistics and Records
In league play, at first Olympique Marseille dominated and then Paris Saint-Germain did so. From 1990-1999, the team from Marseille lost just two of 18 matches with the Paris club. Then from 2002 through 2004, Paris Saint-Germain beat their rivals eight times straight. Presently, Paris is the top team.
The two teams have played each other in 105 official matches. PSG has won 48 matches, while OM has won 34. The remaining 23 matches have ended in a draw. The teams have a more balanced record in Ligue 1. PSG has won 35 matches, while OM has won 32.
Top scorer in this rivalry is former PSG forwards Zlatan Ibrahimović with eleven goals.
Important Games, Players and Managers
As of late, this rivalry is marked more by fan battles rather than classic battles on the pitch. Since 2000, there have been hundreds of arrests and numerous deaths associated with this rivalry. However, Some of the more memorable derbies between these two clubS occurred in the 1990s.
A major contest and confrontation occurred on 29 May 1993. Just three days prior, l’OM was victorious over A.C. Milan in the UEFA Champions League final. Now they were playing their bitter rivals in a game that would decide the Ligue 1 crown. It was a tough beginning for Olympique Marseille, as they were exhausted from their big match against Milan.
They fell behind on a goal by PSG midfielder Vincent Guérin in the 8th minute. But then just 8 minutes later OM striker Vincent Guérin scored the equalizer. Then at minute 36 Basile Boli put OM ahead on what was a spectacular 18-foot header. Scoring was capped by the renowned Allen Bokšić at the 76th minute. It was a massive 3-1 win by Olympique Marseille.
However, Parc des Princes have had their turn too. In 1999, they managed a victory over their rivals that was very sweet. PSG had been struggling while Marseille had a shot at the league title. The team from Paris had not beaten OM in years. They managed a come from behind 2-1 win, with both goals coming late in the game at the 84th and 86th minutes. The late-season victory was responsible for Olympique Marseille finishing one-point away from the title.
