Ligue 1: OM bring PSG to their knees in a blazing Clasico

An anticipated and delayed showdown

Twenty-four hours of suspense, storms, and negotiations were not enough to extinguish the fire at the Vélodrome. Postponed on Sunday due to bad weather, the OM–PSG Classic was finally played on Monday evening in front of 65,000 electrified fans. And the wait paid off: Marseille rediscovered the taste of victory against Paris, 14 years after their last league win at the Vélodrome.

A fiery start from Marseille

From the opening minutes, Roberto De Zerbi’s men imposed their rhythm. In his attacking 3-4-3 formation, OM multiplied the runs with Greenwood, Gouiri, and Paixão, supported by a compact block behind. As early as the 5th minute, Nayef Aguerd unleashed the stadium with a furious header, taking advantage of a failed exit from Chevalier. That goal set the tone: intensity, duels, and a Vélodrome in uproar.

The Phocaeans could have doubled their lead: Gouiri hit the crossbar (25’), Emerson thought he had scored before being flagged offside (28’), while Rulli denied Vitinha (17’). On the Paris side, only Kvaratskhelia seemed capable of waking his team with a moment of individual brilliance (31’). But overall, PSG suffered against Marseille’s aggressive pressing and the solidity of the Pavard-Balerdi-Aguerd trio. At halftime, 1-0 was well deserved.

Rulli unbreakable

The second half saw Paris push harder, but without finding a way through. Hakimi thought he had equalized on the hour mark, but his shot was deflected by a Rulli in a state of grace. The Argentine goalkeeper shone again against Vitinha (72’, 86’), piling up decisive saves. On the other side, OM settled for counterattacks, with Aubameyang narrowly missing the chance to seal the win late on (85’).

Under Paris’s siege, the Olympians displayed immense defensive courage, treating each duel as a victory. The Vélodrome shook, but Rulli held firm.

A tense, electric finale

The atmosphere reached a fever pitch in the final minutes. Roberto De Zerbi, too heated in his protests after a foul by Hakimi, was sent off in the 90+1 minute. The Italian left the pitch to the applause of the Vélodrome, a symbol of a team refusing to bend.

Even at halftime in the tunnel, PSG advisor Luis Campos had already unleashed his anger over refereeing decisions and Marseille’s physicality. Paris left frustrated, unable to break down the Olympian block despite dominating late in the game.

Man of the Match: Nayef Aguerd

For his first big Marseille night, the Moroccan defender was simply monumental. Dominant in duels, unbeatable in the air, and above all, the scorer of the winning goal as early as the 5th minute, Aguerd embodied Marseille’s fighting spirit. Leader of the defense, he set the tone for a match where Marseille finally stood tall against Paris.

The Olympians’ ratings

• Rulli (7): decisive on several occasions, the Argentine wall.
• Pavard (6.5): solid and diligent.
• Balerdi (6.5): struggled at the start but valuable afterward.
• Aguerd (8): the hero of the night.
• Emerson (6): combative and disciplined.
• Højbjerg (7): tireless work in the shadows, massive effort.
• Weah (6): generous defensively.
• Greenwood (6.5): inspired and unselfish.
• Paixão (3): too soft, replaced by Aubameyang.
• Gouiri (6.5): technically sharp, unlucky with the crossbar.

The Phocaean celebration

At the final whistle, the Vélodrome erupted. After 12 straight home defeats against Paris, OM finally broke the curse. In the stands and on social media, euphoria was immediate: rapper Jul hailed the team in a fiery Instagram story, embodying the joy of an entire city.

A victory with weight

Beyond the three points, this victory carries immense symbolic value. It comes in the context of an institutional standoff between OM, the LFP, and PSG over the postponement of the match. By enforcing the rules, then imposing their will on the pitch, OM secured a masterful double triumph.

Paris wanted to turn Monday night into a showcase with the Ballon d’Or. Marseille turned it into a display of pride and resistance. The Classic has spoken: OM stands tall, and Paris bows down.