A four-star Classique!
Highlights:
Paris Saint-Germain extended its unbeaten run to 20 matches against the old enemy Olympique de Marseille. A magic Classique, especially in the first half. These matches are always special at the Parc, an incredible atmosphere, that clearly inspired the home side. Angel Di Maria (1') and Kylian Mbappé (4') set the tone as Paris burst out of the blocks. But it was Mauro Icardi that finally opened the scoring at the second time of asking from Di Maria's cross (1-0, 10')! And the Argentina international headed home his second of the night from Verratti's cross just before the half-hour (2-0, 26')! The constant pressing from the home side gave Marseille no chance and Mbappé got in on the act from another Di Maria offering (3-0, 32')! 12 minutes later: bis repetita. A trademark counterattack saw Fideo release Kylian in behind to net his brace just before the break (4-0, 44')! For the first time in history, Paris scored three goals in the first half against OM! What a performance!
It was like a Champions League recital. Marseille tried to stop the tide in the second half. Paris stepped off the gas, but Mbappé could still have got his hat-trick (71'), before being replaced by Cavani (71'). Paris Saint-Germain controlled proceedings with Leandro Paredes sending his free-kick goalwards (76'), while the defence kept another clean sheet, despite a late chance to Aké (86') - an eighth clean sheet of the season in Ligue 1, to go with three in the Champions League. In the standings, Paris are now eight points clear at the top.
A Parisian in the match: Angel Di Maria
A cross for Icardi's opener and two offerings for Mbappé: Angel set up three more goals for the Rouge et Bleu. Fideo has now been directly involved in 22 goals in Ligue 1 in 2019 (13 goals, 9 assists). Mbappé won't argue with that - he has benefitted from ten assists in all competitions this year!
The word: Double(s)
It was clearly the theme of the evening: First Icardi showed the way (10', 26') - he has now scored in his last five consecutive matches! Mbappé followed suit (32', 44') and now has 24 goals and six assists in Ligue 1 in 2019 and has scored in his last four Classiques in Ligue 1!
Coming up:
After five straight wins in October, Paris Saint-Germain begin November with the opening match of Week 12 of the season next Friday away to Dijon. At the Stade Gaston Gérard, the league leaders will be taking on the cellar dwellers and also have history in their side: Paris have won all four league meetings away to Dijon in Ligue 1.