Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 5, 20/09/26

PSG captain Marquinhos restored his side’s lead in the last twenty minutes after Angel Gomes previously cancelled out Ferran Torres’ opener. Les Parisiens climb to Ligue 1’s sixth place before the international break. Meanwhile, Marseille remain rooted to the depths. Bruno Genesio’s team have conceded a fifth straight loss.

Marseille hosted arch-rivals PSG on the back of a worrying streak of four losses in all competitions, the latest an Europa League humbling at the hands of Besiktas . Meanwhile, Les Parisiens had a full week to prepare for Ligue 1’s most polarizing clash.

PSG bid their time to probe Marseille for flaws, but Bruno Genesio’s set-up remained airtight throughout, barring a CJ Egan-Riley clearance off his line and Ousmane Dembélé’s overhit chip. PSG held more possession, but Luis Enrique’s players looked devoid of ideas of what to do with it, and how to hurt Marseille with it.

For their part, Les Phocéens were not doing anything particularly wrong, but their lack of ruthlessness was on show with Neal Maupay spurning the biggest chance of the first half. Marseille were also forced into an early change with Igor Paixão out injured. In the end, no team deserved to go ahead at the break. The hosts have shown too little in the final third, whereas PSG lacked sharpness and urgency.

Whatever Luis Enrique told his players, it appears to have worked. The visitors cranked up the pressure, pinning Marseille into their half. PSG spurned several chances, through Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Neves and Doué. But it only took eight minutes for substitute Ferran Torres to break the deadlock. The Spaniard’s positioning was once again on point as he headed home Nuno Mendes’ cross.

Marseille were down, but not out. The excellent Gouiri combined with Angel Gomes, who replaced Paixão in the first half, for the English international to restore parity after dribbling past Willian Pacho, which is no small feat. Cue bedlam in the Vélodrome.

Marseille’s 66.000-seater grew silent only three minutes later as Nuno Mendes ditched out another perfect cross for the unmarked Marquinhos. The talismanic captain took two bites of the cherry to restore PSG’s lead. OM’s woes deepened as Timothy Weah was given his marching orders for a second booking.