Paris Saint-Germain won against Olympique de Marseille at the end of a one-sided Classic this Sunday (4-0).
A Classic always has a special flavor. It is rare to see the two most popular clubs in French football swimming in the same waters, and even when they manage to do so, there is always one to throw a fit and add a little salt on display. When Luis Enrique’s debut at PSG looked like a long, calm river, despite a contrasting balance sheet, OM fell into a violent and sudden crisis.
Propelled to the bench after the unexpected departure of Marcelino, Jacques Abardonado approached his first Classic in the shoes of a coach. The OM interim coach had made his debut in Amsterdam successfully, relying on a daring animation with a high block and a 4-3-3 system to put the contested 4-4-2 of his predecessor in the back of the drawer. But PSG is not Ajax. Showing up at the Park in the same pattern was adventurous, even downright perilous, especially when you leave so much space to the Parisian spiers.
Abardonado opted for a safer-looking option with a 5-3-2 scheme. Mbemba, Balerdi and Gigot were aligned in central defense, with Clauss and Renan Lodi as pistons on the sides, as under Igor Tudor. Veretout and Rongier started in midfield, alongside Ounahi. Vitinha partners Aubameyang in attack. This was the key to this intense and electric match.
PSG did everything well
Luis Enrique had no reason to change his plan, but he changed his men since Paris presented itself with 4 professional attackers, the young Barcola being on the right side to refocus Ousmane Dembélé. For the rest, the Spanish technician did not deviate from his principles. Very early on, the Parisians showed their desire to suffocate their opponent with intense pressing when they lost the ball, and a lot of availability for the carrier. A mode of action that Mbappé and his teammates are increasingly mastering. Under the leadership of Ugarte still in the oven and at the mill, Paris has put in the necessary ingredients to spend a quiet evening.
The light came from Achraf Hakimi, once again. Already brilliant against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening (2-0), the Moroccan international did it again with a masterful free kick (1-0, 8th). Positioned in the half-space on the right side, Hakimi, who scored his third goal of the season in all competitions, confirmed that he was indeed one of the strong men at the start of the Luis Enrique era.
What about Mbappé? The Parisian star indirectly contributed to this opening score by obtaining the decisive free kick, but this action left its mark. Hooked by Balerdi, the Parisian striker, hit in the ankle, had to give up his place at the half-hour mark to Gonçalo Ramos. Paris has therefore not changed its structure despite the premature exit of its best player, which says a lot about the new collective assurances of this PSG.
Timid at the start of the match, the Marseillais had nevertheless tried to let go of the horses by exploiting the spaces behind the Parisian full-backs, but Vitinha, ideally placed, found the bar with his helmet shot (21st). A turning point, perhaps, because a few minutes later, Kolo Muani did not tremble to take a shot from the untenable Hakimi who had found the post (2-0, 31st).
And if all these beautiful people were contained until the break, Paris was quick to sting once again. Upon returning from the locker room, Dembélé delivered a perfect cross for Ramos, author of a “cavanesque” header for the 3-0 goal (47th). This goal confirmed that with a strong attacker like the Portuguese and overflow wingers capable of delivering crosses into the box, PSG is developing another circuit that has been vacant for years. In short, Paris has varied its weapons a lot. The French champions managed this advantage quietly in a controlled last half hour, before closing the show with a new goal from Ramos, served on a counter by Kolo Muani (4-0, 89th).
The step was too high for this Marseille team. Luis Enrique’s good students, for their part, continue on their merry way by submitting a new applied copy. For Paris, there is nothing like a Classic to combine business with pleasure.
