At 2:30am, long after the noise had faded at the Vélodrome, Paris Saint-Germain found another wall of sound waiting at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Supporters turned out in numbers to greet the squad after its 2-1 Classique victory over Marseille, filling the arrival area with chants, flares and a guard of honour for the returning players.
The reception came after PSG’s Sunday-night win at the Vélodrome, a result that gave the reigning French champions a badly needed lift following a difficult opening to their Ligue 1 campaign. Paris had gone without a win in their first three league matches, but victories at Francis-Le Blé and then in Marseille have begun to change the mood.
PSG supporters were not permitted to travel to Marseille for the match, despite an appeal to the Conseil d’État. Their presence was nevertheless felt in Paris when the team returned from the south of France in the early hours of Monday morning.
Luis Enrique underlined the importance of the result after the final whistle, saying the team were “very happy to win these three important points for our supporters.” Ferran Torres also described the fixture as one of the defining matches of the season for both the players and the club’s fanbase.
Despite the momentum generated by the back-to-back wins, PSG remain five points behind Ligue 1 leaders Monaco. The airport scenes offered a reminder, however, that a win over Marseille can carry its own weight in a season still finding its direction.
