Paris, France, Mar 16 (V7N) – Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) continued their dominant season with a 3-1 victory over bitter rivals Marseille, solidifying their lead in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, a crucial relegation battle between Montpellier and Saint-Etienne was abandoned due to violent crowd disturbances.
PSG's victory at the Parc des Princes followed their midweek Champions League triumph over Liverpool. Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring, extending his impressive form, and Nuno Mendes doubled the lead before halftime. An own goal by Pol Lirola sealed the win for PSG, despite Amine Gouiri pulling one back for Marseille.
With this win, PSG remains unbeaten in Ligue 1 and now holds a commanding 19-point lead over Marseille, with only eight matches remaining. This puts them on track to potentially clinch their 11th title in 13 seasons as early as the next round of fixtures.
"This has been an exceptional week for us," said PSG coach Luis Enrique. "It was a good spectacle and a great game."
In a stark contrast, the match between Montpellier and Saint-Etienne was marred by severe crowd trouble. The game was abandoned in the 57th minute after flares were thrown, causing a fire in the stands at the Stade de la Mosson.
At the time of abandonment, Saint-Etienne was leading 2-0, with Lucas Stassin scoring both goals. Referee Francois Letexier confirmed the abandonment was ordered by authorities after police were forced to intervene. Local police reported seven minor injuries and two arrests.
"This has been brewing for a while unfortunately," said Montpellier coach Jean-Louis Gasset, reflecting on the escalating tensions.
The incident occurred shortly after Saint-Etienne's second goal, with further incidents reported outside the stadium. The Saint-Etienne team's hotel was also targeted overnight with fireworks.
The abandoned match leaves Montpellier at the bottom of the table, while Saint-Etienne remains in a precarious position in the relegation zone.
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