Intro
Ballon d’Or winner inspires ruthless PSG display in historic Ligue 1 rout
Paris
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé delivered a masterclass with two goals and an assist as Paris Saint-Germain humiliated bitter rival Marseille 5-0, reclaiming top spot in Ligue 1 with their most emphatic victory ever in the storied rivalry.
The dominant win restored PSG’s two-point lead over Lens after 21 rounds and pushed Marseille down to fourth place, behind Lyon. Marseille’s surprise 1-0 victory over PSG earlier this season already feels like a distant memory.
“We wanted to send a message that we’re back,” Dembélé said after the match. “It was almost perfect.” PSG coach Luis Enrique echoed the sentiment, calling it a historic day for the club’s supporters. “It’s an important day for our fans because 5-0 against Marseille had never happened before,” he said.
Dembélé opened the scoring in the 12th minute, side-footing home a cross from Nuno Mendes after a rapid counterattack. He doubled PSG’s lead in the 37th minute, capitalising on a costly defensive error from Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi, dribbling past him before firing into the roof of the net.
Marseille’s night unravelled further after the break. A Facundo Medina own goal extended PSG’s lead before Dembélé turned provider, setting up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for a clinical volley. Substitute Lee Kang-in completed the rout with a composed finish late on.
Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi apologised to fans after another demoralising display, coming less than two weeks after a Champions League exit to Club Brugge. His decision to drop goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli backfired, with replacement Jeffrey de Lange enduring a torrid evening behind a fragile defence.
Top scorer Mason Greenwood and fellow attackers Amine Gouiri and Ethan Nwaneri were largely anonymous, while veteran Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remained unused on the bench.
Despite early scrutiny after past incidents, PSG fans largely behaved, though referee Willy Delajod briefly halted play following discriminatory chants midway through the second half.
The crushing defeat underlined PSG’s authority in Ligue 1 and sent a clear warning to their title rivals as the season enters its decisive phase.