Neymar sentences Marseille

PSG clinched Le Classique after beating arch-nemesis Marseille 1-0 thanks to a Neymar goal in first-half stoppage time. The Brazilian, who also forced Gigot’s red, was once again the best of the Parisians in a game that, beyond the expulsion, was one of the quietest in recent years. The leader of Ligue 1 leaves his main pursuer six points behind and with the feeling that three quarters of the championship were decided this Sunday.

Galtier had to take out for the first time in the whole season an eleven with four defenses before the casualties of Kimpembe and Ramos. The best news for PSG was, without a doubt, the return of Messi, that he had been injured in the soleus and had not been in the last two commitments of his team.

The most intense first half in recent years between PSG and Marseille decided it a goal from Neymar to a pass from Mbappé with time practically up. Before, both teams fought in a battle of blows in which the Parisians had very clear opportunities to have sentenced before half an hour. An imperial Pau López, avoiding two goals from Messi, one from Achraf and another from Mbappé at close range, kept Tudor’s men alive until Neymar decided with a good definition at the first touch.

After restart, PSG showed once again that they don’t even need to play at a fast pace to dominate. Although Donnarumma had to avoid a one-on-one tie with Clauss as soon as the second half began, the singing voice was taken by Galtier’s team, who could rule through Verratti, but an omnipresent Pau avoided it. Tudor’s men finished with ten due to a hard tackle from Gigot to Neymar in which the central defender saw a direct red card and could have injured the Brazilian. A pragmatic victory, but one that begins to mark distances in the championship.

Rest of the day

In the bulk of the day in Ligue 1, which takes place every Sunday at 3:00 p.m., Laurent Blanc had a fateful debut on the Olympique de Lyon bench. The Rhône side lost 3-2 on their visit to Rennes and added their sixth defeat in the last seven games. Monaco, conditioned by the early expulsion of Mohamed Camará, drew against Clermont. The Monegasques took the lead through Embolo, while the Lancers equalized thanks to a goal from Andric in the second half.