Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) overcame arch-rivals Marseille 2-1 on Sunday, and they might secure the Ligue 1 title this week thanks to a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
Following a VAR review, Mbappe converted from the spot in first-half stoppage time after the referee gave a penalty for handball, restoring PSG’s advantage after Neymar’s early opening and a Duje Caleta-Car equaliser.
With six games remaining, PSG sits 15 points clear of second-placed Marseille, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side — who also have a significantly superior goal differential — are poised to recapture the title they lost to Lille last season.
If Marseille fails to beat Nantes on Wednesday, PSG would have formally secured their eighth Ligue 1 title in ten seasons if they beat Angers.
Despite the perceived high stakes for the most important match in French football, the Parc des Princes had a noticeably dull mood.
Marseille fans were barred from the game due to fears of violence, which has been a recurring theme in France in recent months.
Meanwhile, PSG’s most vociferous supporters, the ‘ultras,’ have opted to remain silent until the end of the season in protest at the club’s management and results in a season highlighted by a Champions League last-16 exit to Real Madrid.
In any case, PSG’s chances of winning a record-tying 10th French title in their history were never truly in doubt, even before their current three-game winning streak in which Neymar and Mbappe have each scored six goals.
PSG took the lead in the 12th minute when the Brazilian met a flighted ball forward by Marco Verratti and lobbed stranded goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
Marseille drew level shortly after the half-hour mark when Gianluigi Donnarumma botched a corner, allowing Caleta-Car to finish on the line.
Before PSG were awarded the penalty deep in stoppage time at the end of the half, Lopez saved a Neymar free-kick and Messi had two goals disallowed for offside.
Mbappe’s successful penalty was his 21st in Ligue 1 this season and his 32nd overall.
In the second half, another opportunity by the France star was rejected due to offside.
When William Saliba converted Dimitri Payet’s late free-kick, Marseille felt they had stolen a point.
However, that effort was also disallowed, and PSG remained in the game.
