Randall Kolo Mwani and Goncalo Ramos scored their first goals for Paris Saint-Germain as the French champions crushed arch-rivals Marseille 4-0 in the French Premier League on Sunday.
Kolo Mwani and Ramos added twice to Achraf Hakimi’s early goal to lift Paris Saint-Germain to third place in the standings with 11 points from six matches, two behind surprise leaders Stade Prestois.
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It was not an ideal night for the hosts at the Parc des Princes, as Kylian Mbappe was forced off the field with a possible ankle injury in the first half.
The team’s coach, Luis Enrique, said in a press conference, “It was a perfect match. We were close to achieving what we wanted. The players are always communicating, defending and attacking together.”
Marseille, which went through a difficult week off the field amid a dispute with its fans, is in seventh place with nine points.
The Provence team parted ways with coach Marcelino and criticized his fans’ representatives during the week after they threatened the club’s management and pressured them to resign.
President Pablo Longoria pledged to stay, saying he had received “unconditional support” from club owner Frank McCourt.
With caretaker coach Jacques Abardonado on the bench – or more accurately, gesticulating and shouting from the touchline – Marseille were unable to respond to the ‘tiki-taka’ of Paris Saint-Germain that super-strategic coach Luis Enrique was looking to impose on the team. Who struggled for a long time to find a playing style.
Paris Saint-Germain were rewarded eight minutes later when Hakimi fired a free kick into the top corner after Mbappe was fouled on the edge of the penalty area.
The French striker was replaced by Marcelo Ramos in the 32nd minute due to a possible ankle injury.
Luis Enrique said: “We tried to tie it again but it was still hurting, so we decided not to risk anything. I don’t think it is serious and it should come back soon.”
Bradley Barkola tormented the Marseille defense on the left flank, threatening several times with his silky dribbling.
But the visitors came close to scoring in the 23rd minute when Vitinha’s header hit the crossbar.
But Paris Saint-Germain was much more effective.
In the 40th minute, Hakimi’s violent shot hit the post and was cleared by goalkeeper Pau Lopez and headed to Kolo Mwani, who scored his first goal with Paris Saint-Germain.
Vitenha and Azzedine Ounahi were replaced at half-time by Ilian Ndiaye and Amine Harit, respectively, but it was Paris Saint-Germain who made the quickest start as Ramos headed home from Ousmane Dembélé’s cross in the 47th minute.
The night ended with Paris Saint-Germain fans celebrating in the Boulogne Cup with anti-gay chants, and a large portion of the crowd applauding.
The chants stopped briefly when Ramos scored the fourth goal after an assist from Kolo Mwani at the end of a sharp counter-attack.
