PSG vs. Marseille: Score and Reaction from Ligue 1 Game

Paris Saint-Germain emerged as comfortable victors in Le Classique on Sunday evening, as they beat 10-man Olympique Marseille 2-0 in Paris.

Goals from Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani toward the end of each half were enough for Laurent Blanc's side to take all three points in the eagerly anticipated Ligue 1 game, with Giannelli Imbula's dubious sending off in the 78th minute capping a disappointing display from Marcelo Bielsa's men.

The result means PSG, who welcomed Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to action during the second half, are now just a point behind their rivals at the top of Ligue 1, with Marseille still leading the way with 28 from their opening 11 games.

Blanc will doubtless claim the result will provide a sizeable psychological boost for his team, however, as they looked vastly superior for large parts of the contest.

"

But le PSG ! Lucas 1-0 https://t.co/f1K8w7ooLn

— TeamFoot (@TeamFoot2014) November 9, 2014"

It was the visitors who arguably started the brighter in the first half, although that did not translate into an early opening goal that may have changed the course of the contest. Andre-Pierre Gignac was the biggest offender for the visitors, hitting the post with an early header before firing wide of Salvatore Sirigu's goal from the edge of the box.

Marseille continued to push forward and look dangerous—Romain Alessandrini taking over from Gignac as the man unable to finish the best openings—but the game changed a little over five minutes before half-time, as PSG showed a fine cutting edge in the final third and duly broke the deadlock.

It was the bright and lively Lucas Moura who grabbed the goal; the Brazilian being rewarded for his hunger and raw pace as he slipped in front of the dozing Marseille defence to turn Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross past Steve Mandanda.

PSG looked relatively comfortable and in control from that point, although they needed the assistance of the referee and the introduction of Ibrahimovic, fit again after injury, to kill the game off in the second half—especially after Gignac wasted another glorious opening with a weak attempted lob.

Imbula seemed to have done little wrong in his challenge on Yohan Cabaye with just 12 minutes remaining, but the referee was perhaps swayed by the former Newcastle man's theatrical reaction as he showed the Marseille midfielder a straight red card. That seemed to kill off whatever hope Bielsa's men had of sneaking a point out of the game, although they had looked outmatched by their confident opponents even before that moment.

"

But du PSG ! 2-0 Cavani https://t.co/LUdSjrhTNl

— TeamFoot (@TeamFoot2014) November 9, 2014"

With the numerical advantage PSG duly killed the game off, with Ibrahimovic toying with the Marseille defence and creating the sort of space that his strike partner Cavani would eventually capitalise on.

The Uruguayan had his chance put on a plate for him by Serge Aurier's fine cross five minutes from time and powered the ball beyond Mandanda to tighten things up at the top of Ligue 1. 

Francois Mori/Associated Press

What's Next?

PSG's next game is scheduled to be against Metz on November 21. Marseille play at home to Bordeaux two days later.