PSG beat Marseille as Montpellier game abandoned due to crowd trouble
Paris Saint-Germain completed a fine week by beating bitter rivals Marseille 3-1 on Sunday to take a big step towards another Ligue 1 title, while the clash between relegation battlers Montpellier and Saint-Etienne was abandoned due to crowd trouble.
PSG followed their Champions League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday by getting the better of Marseille at the Parc des Princes in a meeting of the top two in Ligue 1.
Ousmane Dembele continued his prolific recent form by scoring the opener and Nuno Mendes made it 2-0 for PSG before half-time, with Pol Lirola's own goal securing victory in the second half after Amine Gouiri had pulled one back.
Luis Enrique's side are still unbeaten after 26 games in Ligue 1 this season and now lead Marseille by a mammoth 19 points at the top with eight matches to play.
It means PSG could be crowned champions for the 11th time in 13 seasons during the next round of games on the last weekend in March.
If Marseille lose at Reims and Monaco draw with Nice on Saturday, March 29, Paris would be able to wrap up the title with a win at Saint-Etienne the same day.
"This has been an exceptional week for us," said Luis Enrique.
"It was a good spectacle and a great game. We were maybe not quite as fluid as we have been but I am still very happy with the performance and it was an almost perfect night for us."
Dembele opened the scoring on 17 minutes, latching onto a Fabian Ruiz pass and going round Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli before changing direction and finishing emphatically into an exposed net.
It was a 21st Ligue 1 goal this season for the division's leading marksman, and a 30th in all competitions. Dembele has scored 25 goals in 20 appearances since mid-December.
Ruiz also set up PSG's second just before the interval as the Marseille defence switched off, allowing the Spaniard to make a run in behind before teeing up Mendes to score via a touch off Rulli.
Marseille were staring at a third defeat in their last four games as well as a seventh successive league loss to PSG.
Gouiri reduced the deficit soon after the restart as Adrien Rabiot latched onto a poor backpass by Mendes and went around home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before setting up the striker.
However, Dembele struck the post for PSG and the third goal arrived when substitute Lirola turned Achraf Hakimi's low cross into his own net.
Marseille are just two points ahead of both third-placed Monaco and Nice in fourth, while Lyon are a further two points back in fifth after beating Le Havre 4-2.
- Unsavoury scenes -
In Montpellier, the clash between the bottom two was interrupted in the second half after flares were thrown by supporters, briefly causing a fire to break out in a stand at the Stade de la Mosson.
Saint-Etienne were leading 2-0 when the action was halted in the 57th minute, with a decision taken to abandon the match altogether shortly after.
Referee Francois Letexier confirmed during a press conference that the game had been abandoned on the order of the authorities after police were forced to intervene to restore calm.
Local police reported seven minor injuries and two arrests.
Lucas Stassin had scored twice for Saint-Etienne who were on course for a vital win in their fight against the drop despite being reduced to 10 men just before half-time.
"This has been brewing for a while unfortunately," admitted Montpellier coach Jean-Louis Gasset. "Maybe not quite to this extent, but it is almost logical that this was going to happen."
Montpellier are bottom of the table, five points adrift of Saint-Etienne, who are themselves a point behind Le Havre in the relegation play-off spot and three points away from outright safety.
The trouble erupted just after Saint-Etienne's second goal went in, while incidents also took place outside the stadium.
The hotel where the Saint-Etienne team were staying had also been targeted overnight, with fireworks launched at its facade at around 3:00 am local time, although police said there were no injuries or serious damage caused.
bur-as/dj
Topics
-
Montpellier Ligue 1 clash abandoned after crowd trouble
The French Ligue 1 clash between relegation battlers Montpellier and Saint-Etienne on Sunday was abandoned in the second half after flares were thrown by supporters, briefly causing a fire to break ...Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Montpellier v Saint-Etienne abandoned after fan trouble
The Ligue 1 match between relegation rivals Montpellier and Saint-Etienne is abandoned after home fans threw flares on to the pitch and part of a stand caught on fire.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
PSG move closer to Ligue 1 title with victory over Marseille
Paris Saint-Germain moved 19 points clear in the Ligue 1 title race following a 3-1 Ligue 1 win over Marseille in Le Classique. Scorers: Dembélé 17', Mendes 42', Lirola (own goal) 76' ; Gouiri 52'...Yahoo Sports - 10h -
French league game in Montpellier is abandoned after fans throw flares and start fire in a stand
A French league match between bottom side Montpellier and fellow struggler Saint-Etienne was abandoned Sunday when a fire broke out in a stand after flares were thrown by home fans. Montpellier ...Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Marseille face up to gulf separating them from PSG in France
Marseille travel to Paris Saint-Germain this weekend for French football's biggest fixture, which threatens to remind them of the enormous gulf now separating the two great rivals.Key stats 0 - ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
PSG remain on course for unbeaten Ligue 1 season after Marseille win in Le Classique
Luis Enrique's UCL-contending Parisiens remain without a loss this domestic seasonCBS Sports - 10h -
‘It doesn’t affect him’ – Valentin Rongier on Adrien Rabiot Parc des Princes return
It’s been one of the talking points of the upcoming Classique clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille on Sunday evening: Adrien Rabiot will make his return to the Parc des ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
‘Focus on PSG, respect the opponent’ – Luis Enrique’s message to PSG fans ahead of Le Classique
Speaking at Paris Saint-Germain’s pre-match press conference ahead of the second Classique clash of the Ligue 1 season, manager Luis Enrique followed the club’s recent communication strategy surro...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Wrexham beat promotion rivals Wycombe; go 2nd
Wrexham took a huge step towards securing automatic promotion to the Championship with an important 1-0 against Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Saturday.ESPN - 17h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Bruno Fernandes hits back at stinging Roy Keane criticism after big Man Utd win
Keane had slated Fernandes’s leadership and claimed he isn’t a fighterYahoo Sports - 29m -
Manchester City see host of clubs line up for out-of-favour forward amid Pep Guardiola frustrations
Jack Grealish is set to attract widespread interest at the end of the season and is looking to leave Manchester City after four years at the Etihad Stadium, as per reports.The 29-year-old is ...Yahoo Sports - 30m -
How Dan Burn, Newcastle’s local boy and ungainly colossus, ended 70 years of pain
Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle United: Dan Burn and Alexander Isak secure glory at Wembley to end the Magpies’ droughtYahoo Sports - 52m -
World Indoor Track and Field Championships 2025: How to watch, schedule, preview
How to watch the 2025 World Indoor Track and Field Championships from Nanjing, China.Yahoo Sports - 52m -
Commanders bring back key defensive line reserve for 2025
The Washington Commanders brought back a key reserve from their 2024 defensive line on Sunday night.Yahoo Sports - 53m
More in Sports
-
Bruno Fernandes hits back at stinging Roy Keane criticism after big Man Utd win
Keane had slated Fernandes’s leadership and claimed he isn’t a fighterYahoo Sports - 29m -
Manchester City see host of clubs line up for out-of-favour forward amid Pep Guardiola frustrations
Jack Grealish is set to attract widespread interest at the end of the season and is looking to leave Manchester City after four years at the Etihad Stadium, as per reports.The 29-year-old is ...Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Source: Pulisic in talks over new AC Milan deal
United States national team star Christian Pulisic is in negotiations with AC Milan over a new contract, a source has told ESPN.ESPN - 48m -
How Dan Burn, Newcastle’s local boy and ungainly colossus, ended 70 years of pain
Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle United: Dan Burn and Alexander Isak secure glory at Wembley to end the Magpies’ droughtYahoo Sports - 52m -
World Indoor Track and Field Championships 2025: How to watch, schedule, preview
How to watch the 2025 World Indoor Track and Field Championships from Nanjing, China.Yahoo Sports - 52m