Three things we learned as leaders PSG picked apart Marseille at the Parc des Princes | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of the Ligue 1 table and reclaimed Classique bragging rights with an incisive performance against a woeful Marseille defence. Ousmane Dembélé scored a double in the first half, before goals from Neves, Kvaratskhelia, and Kang-in Lee turned the result into a rout. Roberto De Zerbi’s position in Provence now looks increasingly precarious.

Ousmane Dembélé is still PSG’s difference-maker

“You were telling me yesterday that you thought he was inconsistent,” Luis Enrique wryly reminded journalists in the post-match press conference. “I’ve been saying it since the first day I arrived. Ousmane is a player who is different both on and off the ball, especially in the way that he presses.”

The reigning Ballon d’Or winner’s campaign has been blighted by injury, resulting in uneven displays while recovering from his various setbacks. Once he is fully match-fit, though, Ousmane Dembélé is still capable of turning in performances worthy of his status as the nominative best in the world.

He opened the scoring with a straightforward one-on-one finish, with Nuno Mendes delivering the cross after breaking away down the left wing. It’s his second that will be remembered among the great Classique goals, as he weaved in and out of the Marseille defence before an unleashing an outside-of-the-boot shot from a tight angle past De Lange. 

With those two goals, the Frenchman also hit the half-century mark in goals since joining Paris Saint-Germain. He rounded off an all-action attacking performance by assisting the fourth goal, a first-time volley from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shortly after the Georgian had entered the match.

“It was difficult for him to get back to his level, but when he is match-fit he has been very special,” Luis Enrique concluded after the match. PSG’s success in the second half of the campaign will largely depend on his fitness this spring.

Marseille’s downward spiral continues

Coming away from the Parc des Princes with three points, and completing the double over the reigning champions, will have been a tall order, not least given Marseille’s recent form. The manner in which the visitors’ defence was ruthlessly pulled apart, though, showed that the wounds from their dramatic Champions League exit had still not healed.

The defensive performances of Benjamin Pavard and Leonardo Balerdi will be analysed in detail, but performances in other departments across the pitch were scarcely more convincing. Roberto De Zerbi’s decision to start with a much-criticised five-man defence will have notably left the visitors short in midfield, and chances for the front three were few and far between.

“There is no explanation,” an exasperated De Zerbi explained in his press conference. “The biggest issue is that you start a match and you don’t know who’s really out there on the pitch. I’m not looking to make excuses, though, I accept my own responsibility.”

The Italian was evasive when asked about his future and his upcoming discussions with the club’s management. “I’m not discouraged, I’m just sad, because this isn’t how you play a match against Paris Saint-Germain,” he added.  

Bradley Barcola let down by poor finishing

The French international’s upturn in form continued with an incisive display on Sunday, but he was unable to make anything of the many occasions he sped past Benjamin Pavard down the left wing. ué. By the end of the match, the former Lyon man had not managed a single shot on target nor found any of his teammates from the wing. 

He did come close to scoring his eighth goal of the campaign on the hour mark, as he beat the World Cup winner before seeing his strike return off the post. Some more accurate crossing would have also facilitated chances at the back post for Neves and Doué. 

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin