Achraf Hakimi had a hand in two goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat Olympique de Marseille 4-0 at the Parc des Princes to move to within two points of Ligue 1 Uber Eats leaders Stade Brestois 29.
THE MATCH
PSG took the lead inside the first 10 minutes, and how. Kylian Mbappé drew a foul from Leonardo Balerdi on the edge of the box and Hakimi stepped up to curl an unstoppable effort inside Pau Lopez's near post (8'). Marseille probably should have pulled back onto level terms midway through the half when Jonathan Clauss whipped in a wicked cross for Vitinha, but the Portuguese headed his effort against the bar with the goal at his mercy (22'). Mbappé was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos just past the half-hour, finally succumbing to the ankle injury he picked up in earning Hakimi's free-kick (31'), but PSG made it 2-0 soon after. Again Hakimi was involved, his shot from range tipped onto the post, and Randal Kolo Muani was on hand to prod home the rebound for his first PSG goal since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt (37'). Ramos then hit the post with a volley before the offside flag went up against him (41') and it was 2-0 at the break.
Summer transfers make an impact
Paris pulled further clear just a minute after the restart. Hakimi made a blind-side run, giving Ousmane Dembélé time to pick his cross, and the former Barcelona man found the head of Ramos who nodded home his first goal since joining on loan from Benfica. PSG put their foot on the ball from that point, content to let Marseille tire themselves out chasing the game. Hakimi had another free-kick from a similar distance to his opener, and again he went for the near post, but this time he missed the target (53'). The visitors then came close to reducing the arrears with 20 minutes to go, Chancel Mbemba firing narrowly over with his weaker left foot after a clever set piece (61'). There was still time for Kolo Muani to tee up Ramos for his second a PSG's fourth (89') and it ended 4-0 - a result which takes PSG third.
THE PLAYER: Achraf Hakimi
Hakimi won't officially be given the assist for Kolo Muani's goal but his free-kick was expertly taken, and he has now had a hand in five goals from seven games in all competitions this season. The Madrid-born Morocco international looks like the deadliest full-back in the game, and was the difference for PSG on Sunday.
THE STAT: 1
OM caretaker manager Jacques Abardonado became the first coach ever to make his Ligue 1 Uber Eats touchline debut in le Classique. It was a baptism of fire for the former first-team coach, and no decision is likely to be made on his ability to replace Marcelino in the longer run based on tonight's showing.
