Marseille Falls to PSG, Ending Unbeaten Streak
Paris Saint-Germain continued their dominant start to the season with a convincing 2-1 victory over Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday, ending the home side's unbeaten streak in the process. The win extends PSG's lead at the top of Ligue 1, while Marseille will be disappointed to have their impressive run come to an end.
A Tale of Two Halves
The first half was a tight affair with both sides having chances to break the deadlock. Kylian Mbappé, who has been in scintillating form this season, came closest for PSG with a curling effort that was well saved by Pau Lopez. Marseille, however, had the better of the possession and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Alexis Sanchez nearly put the home side in front but his header went just wide.
The second half saw PSG raise their game, and they took the lead in the 55th minute through Lionel Messi. The Argentine maestro played a clever one-two with Neymar, who found Messi in space. Messi then calmly slotted the ball past Lopez to give PSG the advantage.
Marseille were undeterred and responded immediately. Chancel Mbemba equalised in the 57th minute with a powerful header from a corner. The goal ignited the atmosphere at the Vélodrome, and Marseille pushed for a winner.
However, PSG regained control of the match in the final stages and sealed the win in the 89th minute. A quick counter-attack saw Mbappé break clear and he unselfishly squared the ball for Neymar, who tapped it into an empty net.
A Significant Victory for PSG
The win for PSG was their 13th in 14 league matches this season. They now sit four points clear of second-placed Lens, who drew 2-2 with Monaco earlier in the day. The victory was particularly significant for PSG, who have struggled in recent years against Marseille in this fixture.
Marseille, on the other hand, will be disappointed to have lost their unbeaten streak. They had gone 10 matches without defeat in all competitions before Sunday's match. Despite the defeat, they remain in a strong position in the league table, sitting third with 28 points.
Looking Ahead
Marseille will be looking to bounce back from this defeat when they face Nice at the Allianz Riviera next weekend. PSG, meanwhile, have a tough test coming up against Lens at the Parc des Princes.
The battle for the Ligue 1 title promises to be a closely contested affair this season, with PSG the clear favorites. However, Marseille have proven themselves to be a strong contender and they will be looking to close the gap in the coming weeks.