Marseille 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain: First-half strikes from Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi see Mauricio Pochettino's men keep up the pressure on Lille and Lyon at Ligue 1's summit
- Kylian Mbappe scored inside 10 minutes after being assisted by Angel Di Maria
- Di Maria then limped off with a possible thigh injury before Mauro Icardi scored
- Marseille are beset by off-field problems and rarely threatened their hosts
- Dimitri Payet was dismissed late on for a reckless challenge on Marco Verratti
Paris Saint-Germain claimed a clinical 2-0 win at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille on Sunday to keep pace with fellow Ligue 1 title contenders Lille and Olympique Lyonnais.
Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi found the back of the net in the first half to put third-placed PSG on 51 points from 24 games, three behind leaders Lille and one adrift of Olympique Lyonnais, who also won their matches this weekend.
The result left troubled Marseille, who have lost four of their last five games and had Dimitri Payet sent off in the last minute, in ninth place on 33 points from 22 games.
![Mauro Icardi celebrates after making it 2-0 on 25 minutes following Kylian Mbappe's early goal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/07/23/39001394-9234643-image-a-1_1612739772846.jpg)
Mauro Icardi celebrates after making it 2-0 on 25 minutes following Kylian Mbappe's early goal
![Mbappe's opener got Paris Saint-Germain off to the perfect start at the Stade Velodrome](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/07/22/39000578-9234643-image-a-78_1612738216688.jpg)
Mbappe's opener got Paris Saint-Germain off to the perfect start at the Stade Velodrome
Marseille have been hit by off-field problems, with supporters breaking into the training centre amid protests against president Jacques-Henri Eyraud, coach Andre Villas-Boas being suspended after offering to resign over the loan signing of Olivier Ntcham from Celtic, and city mayor Benoit Payan saying he wanted to sell their Stade Velodrome stadium.
The club were, therefore, in desperate need of a victory against PSG, but the French champions made sure that would not happen.
Mbappe put the visitors in front after nine minutes, outsprinting Hiroki Sakai and beating keeper Steve Mandanda with a left-footed effort after being set up by Angel Di Maria for his 16th league goal of the season at the end of a lightning-quick counter attack.
![Angel Di Maria was forced off with a possible thigh injury a minute after assisting Mbappe](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/07/23/39001518-9234643-image-a-2_1612739936154.jpg)
Angel Di Maria was forced off with a possible thigh injury a minute after assisting Mbappe
![Andre Villas-Boas is suspended after he questioned the board over Olivier Ntcham's signing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/07/23/39001646-9234643-image-a-3_1612740716211.jpg)
Andre Villas-Boas is suspended after he questioned the board over Olivier Ntcham's signing
Di Maria, however, limped off the pitch with a possible thigh injury one minute later and was replaced by Pablo Sarabia, nine days before PSG travel to Barcelona for their Champions League last-16 first leg.
Icardi doubled PSG's tally on 25 minutes, deflecting Alessandro Florenzi's cross with the back of his head into the far top corner.
The Argentine, who was denied a penalty after being pulled down by Sakai on the hour, was then substituted for Neymar in the 65th minute as the Brazilian came off the bench having been a pre-match doubt due to gastroenteritis.
![Neymar took to the field for the latter stages having been struck down by gastroenteritis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/07/23/39002144-9234643-image-a-4_1612740861815.jpg)
Neymar took to the field for the latter stages having been struck down by gastroenteritis
![A bad day for Marseille got worse when Dimitri Payet was sent off for fouling Marco Verratti](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/02/07/23/39002184-9234643-image-a-5_1612741108524.jpg)
A bad day for Marseille got worse when Dimitri Payet was sent off for fouling Marco Verratti
Marseille finished with 10 men when Payet was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Marco Verratti.
Lille beat Nantes 2-0 away earlier on Sunday with Lyon humbling Racing Strasbourg 3-0 on Saturday.
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