Marseille claimed their first home Ligue 1 win in Le Classique since 2011 as Nayaf Aguerd’s header gave them a 1-0 win over bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
Storm warnings in the south of France had seen the most famous fixture in the country pushed back from Sunday to Monday, meaning the available players in the PSG side set to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony back in Paris could not do so.
After seeing the match delayed, the Marseille fans did not have to wait long to be sent into delirium as Aguerd nodded them in front in the fourth minute.
PSG, missing Ballon d’Or frontrunner Ousmane Dembele, Champions League final hero Desire Doue and midfielder Joao Neves, pushed to try to find a reply, but Marseille were unfortunate not to add to their lead, Amine Gouiri hitting the bar and Emerson Palmieri seeing a goal ruled out for offside.
Yet Marseille’s luck ultimately proved to be in as PSG were unable to find a route back into the game, the defeat putting Monaco top of the table on goals scored, with Lyon and Strasbourg also level with the defending champions on 12 points. Marseille are three points off the pace in sixth.
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain
There was an element of fortune about Aguerd’s opener as Mason Greenwood’s cross took a heavy deflection and looped into the air for Moroccan to head in from close range.
Geronimo Rulli made smart saves to deny Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz as PSG looked to respond, but the visitors were left breathing a sigh of relief when Gouiri cut in front the left and took aim from the edge of the area, only to see his effort cannon off the woodwork.
Emerson looked to have turned home a second from point-blank range, but the assistant’s flag was quickly raised, with his decision confirmed by VAR.
Kvicha Kvaratskheila bent an effort narrowly wide of the far post, before Igor Paixão went close with a long-range effort in first-half stoppage time for Marseille.
Achraf Hakimi saw a strike turned behind by Rulli and Gonçalo Ramos headed over from close range as PSG continued to be frustrated in their search for a leveller after the restart, with the Marseille keeper again a thorn in their side late on when he thwarted Vitinha from the edge of the area.
The tension of the occasion was too much for Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi, who was sent off in injury time following an exchange with the referee. Though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wasted a late chance to make it 2-0 when through on goal, De Zerbi and Marseille were still able to celebrate as the full-time whistle was greeted by rapturous scenes at the Stade Velodrome.
