Paris, April 18 / BNA / The fugitive leaders Paris Saint-Germain came close to reclaiming the French League title after beating rivals Marseille 2-1 on Sunday in a match that lacked the intensity that suits their bitter rivalry, and two controversial decisions were made: He went the way of Paris Saint-Germain.
Having lost the title to Lille last season, PSG are 15 points ahead of second-placed Marseille with six games remaining. Angers victory on Wednesday will seal the Paris Saint-Germain title if Marseille draw at home to Nantes. A draw is enough if Marseille loses, according to the Associated Press.
Neymar and Kylian Mbappe scored in a calm atmosphere at the Parc des Princes, but Mbappe’s penalty kick awarded in first-half stoppage time 2-1 was in doubt.
A video review gave a handball against Valentin Rogier after the ball hit his elbow, even though it hit his thigh first. Mbappe scored from a low shot on the left to score his 21st goal at the top of the league.
The Marseille players were angry when central defender William Saliba’s goal was disallowed in the 85th minute by an excellent free kick by Dimitri Payet for very weak offside. The VAR call appeared to show that Saliba’s shoulder was directly ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Danilo Pereira.
Marseille’s defeat left him in second place – three points behind Rennes – and automatic qualification for the Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain was eliminated from the Champions League and the players took a rest to face Marseille, who played in Greece on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the European League.
The guests were relieved that Italian midfielder Marco Verratti put a 12th-minute pass over the defence, and Neymar was on his max to send the ball to goalkeeper Pau Lopez, who misread the pass.
This is Neymar’s seventh goal in five matches since Paris Saint-Germain was eliminated from the Champions League by Red Madrid in the round of 16.
But PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma fouled on a corner kick, and from the stampede, Doug Caleta Carr turned Croatia’s midfield into the net in the 31st minute.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi disallowed a goal for offside near the end of the first half.
Paris Saint-Germain fans insulted Marseille players all the time but did not support their team, exasperated by another collapse from a strong position in the Champions League against Madrid last month.
“I wasn’t expecting this atmosphere. It wasn’t the time to do it,” said PSG captain Marquinhos. “We understand that they (the fans) have their reasons, and may not get answers. But as a player I don’t agree.”
Earlier, Andy Delort’s late goal gave Nice a tough 2-1 home win against Lorient and kept them in contention for a place in the Champions League.
And Delort’s second goal in the match saw a header in a cross by Danish striker Kasper Dolberg in the 88th minute.
The victory lifted fourth-placed Nice, two points behind Rennes, in third place and a place in the play-offs of the European Champions League. Nice currently occupies the automatic position in the European League, one point behind Strasbourg and Monaco, with six games remaining. Fifth-placed Strasbourg drew 1-1 with hosts Troyes on Sunday.
Monaco hosts Nice in the Riviera Derby on Wednesday.
Delor scored a penalty kick in the 54th minute after a foul on midfielder Khavrin Thuram. Left winger Armand Laurent equalized in the 61st minute.
On the other hand, striker Moussa Dembele scored a hat-trick in Lyon’s 6-1 win over Bordeaux to go some way to satisfying his disgruntled fans.
Dembele, striker Karl Toko Ekambi and midfielder Lucas Paqueta scored in the first half.
Midfielders Roman Vivre and Toko Ekambi scored after the break for Lyon, before Seko Mara scored a late consolation penalty kick and Dembele scored again in injury time.
Lyon are eighth and only have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe next season, much to the disappointment of their fans. The match was not attended by two notable groups – Bad Guns and Lyon 1950.
Lyon fans in general are not satisfied with the players and the way the club is run. Fans posted a banner offensive to the players during Thursday’s home defeat to West Ham in the Europa League quarter-finals, and attempted to storm the field afterwards.
Bordeaux have conceded 77 goals, the highest in the league and still have problems relegating to 19th place. It hosts fellow struggling colleague Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.
Other matches
Elsewhere on Sunday, last-placed Metz and relegated rival Clermont tied 1-1. In matches between the mid-table teams, it was: Montpellier 0, Reims 0; Nantes 1, Angers 1.