Brace from Dembele and late targets from Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang-in safe PSG’s 5-0 victory over Marseille
Paris St Germain’s Lee Kang-in celebrates scoring their fifth objective with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and teammates. Photograph: REUTERS
PARIS:
Ousmane Dembele struck twice as Paris Saint Germain blew away bitter rivals Marseille on Sunday, reclaiming high spot in Ligue 1 with a crushing 5-0 victory on the Parc des Princes.
Dembele opened the scoring after simply 12 minutes and added a second earlier than halftime as PSG delivered an actual assertion of intent going into the defining months of the season.
Facundo Medina’s personal objective made it 3-0 earlier than substitutes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang-in received in on the act as PSG recorded their biggest-ever margin of victory over Marseille, avenging their 1-0 defeat on the Velodrome in September.
“It was nearly excellent. We made historical past,” stated PSG coach Luis Enrique, hailing Dembele for his “unimaginable” efficiency.
“I stated from the very first day he arrived that he is a distinct form of participant. This season it has been exhausting for him to get again to his degree due to accidents. He is very particular.”
PSG have now gained seven straight league matches, though they continue to be underneath strain from shock challengers Lens, who briefly moved high on Saturday and sit simply two factors behind.
“It isn’t a message we’re sending, we’re a really constant staff,” added Luis Enrique.
“We’re persevering with alongside the identical path as final yr. We’re reaching the very best a part of the season, and this result’s necessary by way of confidence.”
Vitinha will get fortunate
Marseille could really feel aggrieved after PSG midfielder Vitinha escaped with solely a yellow card for a excessive, studs?up problem on captain Leonardo Balerdi within the opening minutes.
Regardless of the severity of the deal with, referee Willy Delajod was not instructed by VAR to evaluate the incident. From that time on, although, it was a scintillating show worthy of the European champions.
PSG surged in entrance moments later as Need Doue launched Nuno Mendes with an excellent ball down the left and the Portuguese wing-back squared for Dembele to fit previous Marseille goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange.
Matfei Safonov, once more chosen forward of Lucas Chevalier within the PSG objective, denied Amine Gouiri because the Marseille striker stabbed a cross goalwards, however the hosts — with a uncommon full week since their final sport — seemed contemporary and threatened repeatedly.
De Lange made save to show away Doue’s angled low drive however Dembele, who has struggled to constantly replicate final season’s Ballon d’Or kind resulting from damage, produced extra magic as he received away from Balerdi, noticed off Medina and rifled in PSG’s second on 37 minutes.
After two closely-fought encounters this season, with PSG profitable the Champions Trophy on penalties final month after a 2-2 attract Kuwait, Marseille supplied nearly nothing within the French capital.
Doue grazed the submit but it surely was solely a matter of time till PSG stretched their lead, Medina inadvertently heading previous his personal ‘keeper on 64 minutes when attempting to intercept a lofted ball meant for Kvaratskhelia.
The Georgia winger, simply on as an alternative on his return from an ankle damage, bagged PSG’s fourth with a chic volley from Dembele’s looping move.
Lee additionally scored after coming off the bench as he drilled low previous De Lange at his close to submit to finish an excellent evening for PSG.
It nearly received even worse for Marseille as each Kvaratskhelia and Mendes hit the bar late on, however the brutal nature of this defeat won’t sit properly at a membership nonetheless stinging from an excruciating Champions League exit barely every week in the past.
