PSG hammer Marseille to go back to second
Ligue 1, Stade Velodrome - Marseille 1 (Fanni 70') PSG 5 (Marquinhos 6', Cavani 16', Moura 50', Draxler 61', Matuidi 72')
PSG hammered rivals Marseille 5-1 on Sunday evening to go back to second in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders Monaco.
The champions went ahead after just six minutes through a well worked Marquinhos header, and Edinson Cavani made it two minutes later, as PSG exploited a terrible Marseille defence.
It could have been more after an error from Patrice Evra, who looked vulnerable all night on the left for the club he now captains.
In the second half, PSG raced into a 4-0 lead when Lucas Moura and then Julian Draxler added a goal each, and killed the game off.
Rod Fanni - back from a recent spell at Charlton - grabbed a consolation, but PSG hit straight back to restore their four-goal lead through Blaise Matuidi.
PSG go back into second with a plus-36 goal difference, just behind three points ahead of Monaco.
TALKING POINT
Can Paris Saint-Germain cut Monaco's lead with their remaining games? Monaco and PSG both remain in the Champions League, though PSG seem likeliest to stay in the competition. While PSG have improved after a rocky start with Unai Emery, it appears that they may have left it too late to make a proper fist of a title challenge.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lucas Moura (PSG): There could have been others who warranted the recognition, but Moura took apart new captain Patrice Evra with his pace and skill, forcing him off at half-time. But he didn't stop there, as he took apart the whole of Marseille's left-hand side. Angel Di Maria came on as a sub to replace him, but even he couldn't match his contribution.
PLAYER RATINGS
Marseile: Pele 6, Sakai 6, Fanni 6, Rolando 5, Evra 3. Lopez 5, Vainqueur 3, Anguissa 3, Thauvin 5, Njie 3, Payet 4. Subs: Bedimo 5, Sertic 6, Cabella 6.
PSG: Trapp 6, Meunier 6, Marquinhos 6, Silva 6, Kurzawa 7, Verrati 6, Rabiot 6, Pastore 6, Lucas 8, Cavani 7, Matuidi 8. Subs: Di Maria 6, Draxler 7, Ben Arfa 6.
KEY EVENTS
6' - GOAL! Marseille 0-1 PSG - Marquinhos scores - Verrati clips a freekick to the near post, Silva nods it across goal and Marquinhos is there, unmarked, to head home.
16' - GOAL! Marseille 0-2 PSG. Cavani scores - Pastore clips a reverse pass into the box, behind the defence, and Cavani lifts it over the 'keeper with ease.
50' - GOAL! Marseille 0-3 PSG. Moura scores - Moura runs onto a cross from the left with calm, low finish past Pele. The cross was a delicate pass from Pastore, with the outside of his boot.
61' - GOAL! Marseille 0-4 PSG. Draxler scores - Meunier strides down the right wing, looks up and picks out Draxler's run into the box to tap into an empty net.
69' - GOAL! Marseille 1-4 PSG. Fanni scores - Payet's free kick from the left isn't properly cleared, it comes to Fanni inside the box, and he spins as he shoots, sending it past Trapp.
73' - GOAL! Marseille 1-5 PSG. Matudi scores - Verrati plays a one-two into the box, rolls it back for Matuidi, and he lifts a shot high into the net to finish Marseille off.
KEY STATS
Edinson Cavani scored his 35th goal of the season, and Marseille have not beaten PSG In 14 attempts.
MATCH IN A TWEET
Related Topics
Share this article