PSG wins the first Paris derby after almost 50 years

After a full 47 years, Paris witnessed a city derby once again. The atmosphere in the stands was electric, as if Paris Saint-Germain and Paris were decades-long enemies, constantly stealing trophies from one another. In reality, however, they were meeting in a competitive match for the first time since 1978, as Paris only reached the top tier this season. And on Sunday they realized they are still too green to seriously trouble their far more powerful city rival, the European champions, who even with a significantly weakened lineup cruised to a routine victory — 2–1.

Still, this win will not bring much comfort to Les Parisiens, who allowed themselves to finish the first half of the league season in second place, one point behind leaders Lens. No one could have foreseen that when the ball was kicked off at the start of the campaign, but the red and yellows took advantage of the stumbles of the club from the City of Light and, for now, are setting the pace in the title race. Both teams had to take the field with mixed lineups. PSG were without Marquinhos, Barcola and Kvaratskhelia, while the visitors were in even greater trouble, with five players away at the Africa Cup of Nations and three more injured. Coach Stephane Gilli had to do a lot of math just to put together a halfway coherent team.

All things considered, Paris did not embarrass themselves. Although they were statistically overrun (72–28 percent possession, 20–5 shots on goal), the scoreboard showed only a one-goal deficit. PSG dominated and created chances, but it was only in the 45th minute that Desire Doue managed to find the way to the net. The visitors lost the ball too easily in their own half and failed to mark Doue, who received the ball at the right moment and calmly slipped it past the goalkeeper.

The start of the second half brought hope for Paris. Zabarnyi conceded a penalty, which Goebbels converted to equalize, but that level scoreline lasted a “full” two minutes — just enough time for Dembele to restore PSG’s lead at 2–1. The remainder of the match followed the same pattern: PSG attacked and created several good chances, while Paris waited for counterattacks and threatened once through Goebbels, but this time goalkeeper Chevalier came out on top.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 17

Friday

Toulouse - Lens 0-3 (0-0)

/Said 57, Thomasson 85, Ganiou 90+5/

Saturday

Monaco - Olympique Lyon 1-3 (1-1)

/Coulibaly 45+4 - Sulc 38, 57, Vinicius 79/

Nice - Strasbourg 1-1 (0-1)

/Wahi 54 - Panichelli 13 pen/

Lille - Rennes 0-2 (0-0)

/Frankowski 49, Merlin 56/

Sunday

Olympique Marseille - Nantes 0-2 (0-1)

/Centroze 31, Cabella 88(p)/

Brest - Auxerre 2-0 (1-0)

/Ajorque 33, Jotard 79/

Le Havre - Angers 2-1 (1-0)

/Quentant 21, Jacquet 81 - Mounton 55/

Lorient - Metz 1-1 (0-1)

/Dieng 73 - Sane 29/

PSG - Paris 2-1 (1-0)

/Doue 45, Dembele 53 - Geubbels 51(p)/