PSG opens three points gap in Ligue 1 with Neymar’s winner

Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have opened a three-point lead at the summit of the log after a 1-0 against ten-men Olympique Marseille.

The Paris club secured maximum points courtesy of the only goal from Neymar Jr. at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

PSG began with their potent attacking line as  Lionel Messi and Neymar returned alongside Kylian Mbappé. The duo had missed last Saturday’s goalless draw at Stade de Reims.

As the trio looked lively,  Mbappé saw a disguised shot into the near bottom corner well saved by Pau Lopez. 

The visitors, through Amine Harit, also forced a similar save from Gigio Donnarumma, as OM were giving as good as they got for much of the first half.

Messi, later in the first half, fired a shot straight into Lopez’s gloves while Nuno Tavares, who is on loan from Arsenal, let fly at the other end, his right-footed attempt catching the Italy No.1 off-guard and forcing him to tip over.

Messi almost scored in the 35th minute as he was inches away from making it 1-0 with his free-kick that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out.

 PSG eventually got the opener on the stroke of half-time when Mbappé slipped the ball inside to Neymar, who steered a fine ninth goal of the campaign in off the post.

 After a good spell from the beginning of the second half, with a chance coming from Chancel Mbemba and Jonathan Clauss, the duo tested Donnarumma with efforts in quick succession but were unable to beat the goalie.

 Mbemba later sent an acrobatic attempt inch wide. 

PSG then regained momentum as Marco Verratti sent a shot straight into Lopez’s feet after breaking into the OM box. 

After Achraf Hakimi saw his effort from a tight angle go wide, OM went down to 10 men. Samuel Gigot was sent off for a tackle from behind Neymar.

 Despite being a man down, Marseille ran hard for the rest of the game, but that had little impact on the scoreline as PSG ran out 1-0 winners.