Paris Saint-Germain crushed Olympique de Marseille 5-0 at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, February 8. The comprehensive victory moved PSG back to the top of Ligue 1 with 51 points, two ahead of RC Lens. Marseille dropped to fourth place after the defeat.
Ousmane Dembélé scored twice in the first half. Facundo Medina’s own goal, plus strikes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang-In completed the rout after the break.
First-Half Domination
PSG opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Desire Doue released Nuno Mendes down the left, and the Portuguese defender crossed for Dembélé to tap in from close range.
Marseille nearly equalized when Amine Gouiri met a Mason Greenwood cross inside the box, but Matvey Safonov saved well. Bradley Barcola hit the post for PSG before Dembélé struck again in the 37th minute. Leonardo Balerdi’s error allowed the winger to break through and fire past Jeffrey de Lange from a tight angle. PSG led 2-0 at halftime.
Second-Half Collapse
Roberto De Zerbi brought on Igor Paixao for Ethan Nwaneri at the break. PSG continued to dominate. Doue hit the post early in the second half.
The third goal came in the 64th minute when Facundo Medina turned the ball into his own net. Two minutes later, Dembélé set up Kvaratskhelia, who volleyed home to make it 4-0.
Lee Kang-In came off the bench in the 68th minute and scored six minutes later. Senny Mayulu provided the assist as Lee finished low into the corner. PSG finished with 22 shots to Marseille’s nine and controlled 58% of possession.
Tactical Battle
Luis Enrique’s game plan worked perfectly. PSG exploited Marseille’s high press throughout the match. Quick transitions and sharp movement caused problems all night for the visitors’ defense.
Nuno Mendes had an outstanding performance, contributing in both defense and attack. Joao Neves controlled midfield and played a key role in the own goal. For Marseille, Balerdi had a poor match. His mistakes led directly to the second goal, and he failed to organize his backline.
Title Race Impact
The result strengthened PSG’s position in the title race. RC Lens sits just two points behind, making this a crucial statement victory for the champions.
Marseille had beaten PSG 1-0 in September and drew 2-2 in the Champions Trophy final in January (PSG won on penalties). This dominant display removed any doubt about the current balance of power. The defeat raises questions about Marseille’s title credentials. They now face a battle just to secure Champions League qualification.
What’s Next
PSG showed they’re hitting form at the right time. The team’s performance against quality opposition demonstrates their championship quality.
For Marseille, the challenge is to regroup quickly. The gap to third place is still manageable, but improvements are needed. With several months remaining in the season, PSG sent a clear message to their rivals. Dembélé is in excellent form, and the team is functioning well across the pitch.
