Paris Saint-Germain delivered a masterclass performance to destroy Olympique de Marseille 5-0 at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, reclaiming top spot in Ligue 1 with a dominant display in Le Classique that underscored their title credentials on Matchday 21.
Ousmane Dembele set the tone with a composed finish in the 12th minute before adding a spectacular solo goal in the 37th to give PSG a commanding 2-0 halftime lead. The France international was in imperious form throughout, tormenting Marseille's defence with his pace and trickery, and cementing his status as one of the most dangerous attackers in French football this season.
The second half brought more misery for the visitors as Facundo Medina turned the ball into his own net in the 64th minute under heavy pressure. Substitutes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang-In made immediate impacts, scoring in the 66th and 74th minutes respectively. Kvaratskhelia also struck the woodwork late on as PSG continued to push forward relentlessly in front of their jubilant home support.
Elsewhere on Matchday 21, RC Lens consolidated their position as genuine title contenders with a 3-1 comeback victory over Stade Rennais. Odsonne Edouard equalized just before halftime, and Ruben Aguilar headed home from a Florian Thauvin cross before Allan Saint-Maximin sealed the win. Remarkably, Aguilar received a second yellow card shortly after his goal, forcing Lens to defend their lead with ten men for the remainder of the match.
Olympique Lyonnais strengthened their grip on third place with a 1-0 away victory at Nantes, Endrick scoring the decisive goal in the 61st minute. Stade Brestois recorded a comfortable 2-0 home win over Lorient, with Remy Labeau Lascary and Ludovic Ajorque finding the net in the second half.
The remaining four matches on Sunday all ended goalless, as Nice and Monaco could not be separated in the Riviera derby, while Le Havre drew with Strasbourg, Auxerre held Paris FC, and Angers played out a stalemate with Toulouse. The cluster of draws left the mid-table battle wide open heading into the final stretch of the season.
With 51 points from 21 matches, PSG sit two points clear of Lens at the summit, with Lyon a further seven points adrift in third. The emphatic victory over their fiercest rivals sends a clear message that Luis Enrique's side remain the team to beat in French football. Marseille's heavy defeat leaves them fourth on 39 points, their ambitions of challenging for the title dealt a severe blow after a humiliating evening in the capital.
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