Paris Saint-Germain outclassed their bitter rivals Marseille 3-0 at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, sending the champions three points clear at the top of Ligue 1 after Monaco suffered their first defeat of the season. The highly-anticipated first Classique of the season was all but over as a contest by the interval as PSG raced into a three-goal lead over Marseille, who had lost Amine Harit to a straight red card midway through the first period. "It's a very positive result," said PSG coach Luis Enrique. "That is a given when you win a Classique away from home with such authority.
"We dedicate this victory to the fans. It's an important match for them and for our place in the table."
Joao Neves gave the visitors the perfect start early on, before a disastrous 10-minute period just prior to the half-hour saw Marseille lose Harit and ship a second goal when captain Leonardo Balerdi turned into his own net.
Bradley Barcola then tucked away PSG's third, and his eighth of the season.
It was a chastening night for Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille, who had enjoyed a strong start to the campaign and went into the match with the possibility of joining their biggest rivals on 20 points with a victory.
But instead they endured their 12th-straight home match against PSG in the league without a win as hundreds of their fans had already made for the exit by half-time.
"I'm disappointed. We had prepared a match of courage and personality. But up until Harit was sent off, there was neither courage nor personality," said De Zerbi.
"It wasn't the match we had in mind and that's a problem. We can lose, but when you wear the Marseille shirt, you can't play without personality and courage," added the Italian coach.
Portuguese midfielder Neves
Football
AS Monaco
Luis Enrique
Paris Saint-Germain
Bradley Barcola
Roberto De-Zerbi
Marseille