Paris Saint-Germain are three factors clear on the prime of Ligue 1 after an unexpectedly one-sided version of Le Classique ended 3-0 to the French champions at Stade Velodrome on Sunday because of Luis Enrique’s aspect exhibiting renewed maturity after a testing run. Les Parisiens’ type has faltered of late with only one win from the final 4 video games throughout all competitions coming into this weekend however the capital outfit discovered themselves forward towards Olympique de Marseille after simply seven minutes and out of sight earlier than half-time in an unbalanced encounter.
It took simply seven minutes for Joao Neves to pounce on Geronimo Rulli’s error to present the supporter-less guests the lead which hushed the house crowd that had till that time been a wall of noise for the PSG gamers to beat alone and up towards a well-recognized face in Adrien Rabiot. Referee Francois Letexier made issues simpler for Luis Enrique’s males simply 13 minutes later with a harsh straight crimson card for a slipshod high-footed Amine Harit problem on captain Marquinhos which required solely 9 minutes to be punished additional.
The style of Paris’ second objective was surprising from a Marseille viewpoint with Roberto De Zerbi watching on in horror as Leonardo Balerdi put by means of his personal internet earlier than the half-hour with a self-inflicted objective so comical that it was like a automotive crash in gradual movement. It took simply 11 extra minutes for PSG so as to add one other objective to their lead with Bradley Barcola ending simply after being teed up by Ousmane Dembele to verify the top of the competition after simply 40 minutes by which era OM supporters have been already leaving the stadium.
On condition that no Parisien followers have been allowed to make the journey to Marseille, emotional administration was all the time going to be key for Luis Enrique and his gamers and the Spanish tactician acquired this one spot on when the stakes have been highest. AS Monaco’s loss away at OGC Good earlier within the day was excellent news for PSG because it invited them to open up a three-point lead on the summit nevertheless it was equally a possible entice as an OM win would have meant that every one three have been degree on 20 factors.
A relaxed and composed opening 20 minutes successfully received the sport for the guests as a result of throughout that point the stadium dynamic was turned from being basically an additional man for Marseille to virtually being an additional man down with over an hour left to play. Neves punishing Rulli’s error was the beginning of that temperature change after what had been a formidable build-up to boiling level simply earlier than kick-off however the important thing second was tempers being saved in verify as Harit went in excessive and caught Marquinhos.
The motion itself arguably merited a yellow card at finest and positively not a dismissal which altered the course of the competition irrevocably however OM had labored themselves right into a frenzy by this level which De Zerbi ought to have ready higher for given his aspect’s historical past of struggling on this fixture. For an concept of how a lot historical past PSG have been in a position to channel into victory within the first half, the lads from the capital have been unbeaten in 11 Championnat visits to Stade Velodrome with eight of these wins which has clearly now develop into 9 from 12 — an unbelievable report to carry over bitter rivals.
From that second, the one-man benefit from the stands arguably turned a two-man drawback because the OM followers ceasing to imagine in victory on prime of Harit being ejected was too huge a mountain for De Zerbi to get his troops up and over earlier than conceding once more in comedian vogue. Equally as staggering as Paris’ report in Provence is the truth that this identical crew below Luis Enrique regarded so common simply days earlier than in a house draw with PSV Eindhoven within the UEFA Champions League which leaves them with 4 factors from a potential 9 and because the least spectacular Ligue 1 consultant at European soccer’s prime desk to this point this season.
If Luis Enrique can replicate the mastery of his crew within the first half of this sport when going up towards the likes of Atletico Madrid and Manchester Metropolis at dwelling in addition to Bayern Munchen away, then there is no such thing as a doubt that their sluggish UCL begin can nonetheless be arrested an circled. The psychological focus towards OM was so sharp even that it produced the form of scientific ending that has been lacking whereas nonetheless having fun with the signature monopoly over possession — arguably the important thing ingredient that had been lacking in latest weeks when factors have been dropped towards Arsenal, Good, RC Strasbourg Alsace and PSV.
