Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele score as PSG beat Paris FC 2-1 in the first Ligue 1 Paris derby since 1990, closing the gap on leaders Lens
PARIS Saint-Germain marked a historic capital derby with a 2-1 victory over Paris FC on Sunday.
The win at the Parc des Princes was the first top-flight meeting between the two Parisian clubs since February 1990.
Goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele either side of half-time secured the three points for Luis Enrique’s side.
The result moved second-placed PSG back to within one point of surprise Ligue 1 leaders Lens.
PSG dominated the first half and thought they had a penalty when Doue was felled by Otavio.
A VAR review, however, adjudged the initial contact to have been outside the box.
Doue left nothing to chance just before the break, perfectly timing his run onto a Fabian Ruiz pass.
The 20-year-old hammered the ball past Kevin Trapp to give the hosts the lead.
Parity was restored six minutes after the restart when Willem Geubbels converted a penalty for the visitors.
Illya Zabarnyi had upended Alimami Gory in the box to concede the spot-kick.
PSG’s lead was restored just two minutes later through a deflected Ousmane Dembele strike.
The Ballon d’Or holder cut in from the right and saw his left-footed effort take a huge deflection past a helpless Trapp.
“I think it was Ousmane’s best game (of the season) tonight, he’s back to his best,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique of his star attacker. Dembele has endured an injury-plagued campaign.
The coach also welcomed the new capital rivalry. “I hope to play many more Parisian derbies. We like having Paris FC in Ligue 1,” Luis Enrique added.
The visitors, backed by the Arnault family since last season, put in a solid showing. Their promotion last term firmly cemented their place as the second strongest side in Paris behind the Qatari-backed giants.
In Sunday’s other Ligue 1 action, Marseille’s ill-discipline cost them dearly in a 2-0 defeat at lowly Nantes.
Red cards for Arthur Vermeeren and Bilal Nadir either side of half-time left Roberto De Zerbi’s team with nine men.
Fabien Centonze gave Nantes the lead after a weak parry from the Marseille goalkeeper.
A late Remy Cabella penalty sealed a crucial win, only Nantes’s third of the season, which lifted them out of the relegation zone.
The defeat was a missed opportunity for third-placed Marseille to pull away in the race for Champions League qualification.
They failed to capitalise on fourth-placed Lille’s 2-0 defeat to Rennes on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Lorient drew 1-1 with bottom-side Metz and Le Havre beat Angers 2-1.
