Paris Saint-Germain left the Mediterranean with a 2-1 victory over Marseille, turning a tight and often tense Classique at the Vélodrome with a decisive second-half burst. Ferran Torres again made the difference after arriving from the bench, while captain Marquinhos restored PSG’s lead within minutes of Marseille’s unexpected equaliser.
The result continues PSG’s recovery after an unconvincing start to their Ligue 1 campaign. They are now sixth, five points behind leaders Monaco, while Marseille’s difficult week deepened into a fifth successive defeat. Bruno Genesio’s side sit second from bottom, still with only the three points collected on the opening weekend, and the coach’s position may now come under increasing pressure.
Luis Enrique selected the same core team used in PSG’s two most recent Champions League finals, with one enforced change: injured Achraf Hakimi was replaced by Warren Zaïre-Emery. Ferran, despite scoring four times across his previous two appearances, began among the substitutes.
Marseille had arrived in crisis after four consecutive losses, including Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League defeat to Besiktas, but they looked more composed in the first half. Chances were scarce in an evenly balanced opening period, with neither side able to establish real control in the final third.
PSG emerged with greater urgency after the interval. Jeffrey De Lange denied them three times in quick succession before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sent an improvised backheel narrowly wide and Joao Neves headed over from close range. The visitors were steadily tightening their grip, and Luis Enrique introduced Ferran for Kvaratskhelia around the hour.
The Spanish forward needed only six minutes to score. Désiré Doué delivered a left-wing cross with his weaker foot, and Ferran arrived between CJ Egan-Riley and Nayef Aguerd to head PSG in front in the 66th minute. It was his fourth league goal and his seventh in six matches for the Paris club since leaving Barcelona.
De Lange soon prevented Ferran from adding another, but Marseille struck back with their first meaningful attack of the second half. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg won possession in midfield and launched the move through Amine Gouiri, who found Angel Gomes. The midfielder cut inside Willian Pacho in the area before driving past Matvey Safonov in the 72nd minute.
The home support had little time to enjoy the equaliser. Three minutes later, Nuno Mendes crossed from the left and Marquinhos reacted fastest after De Lange had stopped his first effort, forcing the rebound over the line for 2-1.
Marseille’s task became still harder in the 77th minute when Tim Weah, facing his former club, was dismissed for a second booking following a foul on Mendes. PSG then created a succession of late openings against a tiring, depleted opponent. Aguerd did threaten one final twist with a header that drifted off target, but Paris saw out a valuable victory on the road.
