The likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Matteo Guendouzi took centre stage on Sunday, as Paris Saint-Germain welcomed Olympique Marseille to the French capital for the latest edition of Le Classique.
And, when all was said and done, it was the former who emerged triumphant, to inch ever closer to regaining the club’s Ligue 1 crown.
Neymar and Kylian Mbappe unsurprisingly made the difference when it came to the scoreline, the former putting PSG in front early on courtesy of a gorgeously improvised volley:
Simply sublime! ?
A perfect cross in behind from Marco Verratti and a stunning improvised volley from Neymar! ?
Le Classique off to a flyer ? pic.twitter.com/4xL0zjY5Ud
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 17, 2022
The in-form Mbappe then restored the hosts’ advantage on the stroke of the interval, lashing home from the penalty spot after Duje Caleta-Car had taken advantage of a Gianluigi Donnarumma howler to pull Marseille level on the half-hour mark:
Kylian Mbappé… SCORES! ?
After a lengthy stoppage, PSG are awarded the penalty against Marseille for handball, and it’s rifled into the net by their star player ?
Was it a harsh decision though? pic.twitter.com/M08h0TjW9b
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 17, 2022
The third member of PSG’s devastating attacking trident, meanwhile, was left frustrated by a night of nearly moments, as Lionel Messi saw both a goal and assist disallowed for offside on the back of VAR checks.
Elsewhere, a pair of on-loan Arsenal talents – in the form of William Saliba and Matteo Guendouzi – too played central roles in the drama.
Stopper Saliba was unlucky to see a late Marseille leveller ruled out for offside, whilst midfielder Guendouzi, ever the headline-maker, drew the wrath of Neymar owing to what the Brazilian evidently felt marked a needless piece of simulation:
Neymar enraged ?
Mattéo Guendouzi goes down easily from a challenge from the Brazilian, a yellow card and a swarm of angry players follow after ?
It’s heating up! ? pic.twitter.com/l8VjOJnpTT
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 17, 2022
PSG extend advantage
So, what does PSG’s downing of their closest competitors in the Ligue 1 table mean for the title race in the French top-flight?
Well, Mauricio Pochettino’s men now sit a full fifteen points clear of Marseille in 2nd.
One more victory would therefore guarantee the capital giants their latest league title, which could come as early as Wednesday night when they make the trip to the Stade Raymond Kopa for a meeting with Angers.
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