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Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos scored their first goals for Paris Saint-Germain as the French champions crushed bitter rivals Marseille 4-0 in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Kolo Muani and Ramos, with a brace, added to Achraf Hakimi‘s early opener to lift PSG up to third in the standings with 11 points from six games, two behind surprise leaders Stade Brestois.
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It was not the perfect night for the hosts at the Parc des Princes, however, as Kylian Mbappe limped off the pitch with a possible ankle injury in the first half.
“It was a perfect game. We’re getting close to having what we want, players always connected, defending and attacking together,” coach Luis Enrique told a press conference.
Marseille, who have had a rough week off the field amid a feud with their fans, are seventh on nine points.
The Provence side parted company with coach Marcelino and hit out at their fans’ representatives during the week after they allegedly threatened the club’s management and pressured them to resign.
President Pablo Longoria vowed to stay on, saying he had received “unconditional support” from the club’s owner Frank McCourt.
With interim coach Jacques Abardonado on the bench — or, more precisely, gesticulating and screaming from the touchline — Marseille were unable to respond to PSG’s ‘Tiki Taka,’ the ultra possessive strategy coach Luis Enrique has been looking to impose on a team who have long struggled to find a playing style.
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PSG were rewarded after eight minutes when Hakimi fired a free kick into the top corner after Mbappe had been fouled at the edge of the box.
The France forward was replaced by Marcelo Ramos on 32 minutes with a potential ankle injury.
“We tried to strap it again but it was still hurting, so we decided not to risk anything. I don’t think it’s serious he should be back soon,” said Luis Enrique.
Bradley Barcola tormented the Marseille defence on the left flank, threatening multiple times with his silky dribbling.
The visitors, however, came close in the 23rd minute as Vitinha’s header shaved the crossbar.
But PSG were far more clinical.
In the 40th minute, Hakimi’s brutal strike crashed on to the post and was deflected by keeper Pau Lopez’s back into the path of Kolo Muani, who only had to tap in for his first goal with PSG.
Vitinha and Azzedine Ounahi were substituted at half-time by Ilian Ndiaye and Amine Harit, respectively, but it was PSG who made the fastest start as Ramos headed home from Ousmane Dembele’s cross on 47 minutes.
The night ended with PSG fans in the Boulogne kop celebrating with anti-gay chants, and a big part of the crowd clapping along.
The chants briefly stopped when Ramos scored the fourth goal after being set up by Kolo Muani at the end of a sharp counter-attack.