Paris Saint-Germain trounced archrivals Olympique de Marseille 3-0 at the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday with a blistering first-half display, courtesy of goals from Joao Neves (7’) and Bradley Barcola (40’), either side of a Leo Balerdi own goal (29’). OM’s Amine Harit was sent off in the 20th minute. The win sees the defending champions move three points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 standings after Matchday 9.

There was an electric atmosphere for Le Classique between the two biggest rivals in France and the annual highlight of Ligue 1 calendar. The sporting stakes were high, of course, with two of the league’s top three going head to hear for a place at the summit. Luis Enrique aligned a hybrid 4-3-3 formation with an attacking trio of Lee-Dembélé-Barcola combining technique, speed and courage.

It was a typically hostile atmosphere in the Vélodrome... However Les Parisiens are well versed in rising above the noise and focusing purely on the task at hand. The first duels, the first contacts, the first tackles, all reflected the determination of Les Rouge et Bleu. And it took just 7 minutes for a powerful start to be translated onto the scoreboard! Nuno Mendes began a fine team move down the left and his compatriot João Neves was on hand to finish from close range (0-1, 7’). The perfect start!

Luis Enrique's side were in complete control and things got even harder for the home side when Amine Harit was sent off, leaving his teammates down to ten men following a high boot challenge on Marquinhos (20’). Despite the numerical advantage, Paris showed the importance of respecting the competition and the game plan as they looked secure the result as quickly as possible.

Maturity, calmness and solidarity were the watchwords inside the cauldron-like atmosphere of this ultimately one-sided Classique. It was these virtues that enabled Paris to add two more goals before the break. First, OM skipper Balerdi deflected the ball into his own net under pressure from Lee Kang-in (0-2, 29’). And then came the knockout blow… After another quick attack from João Neves, Ousmane Dembélé was first denied by Rulli before coolly squaring for Bradley Barcola to net Les Parisiens' third (0-3, 40’)!

Paris had sucked the oxygen out of the Vélodrome. Alternating long sequences of possession with changes of tempo, the visitors launched wave after wave of attacks on Rulli's goal as the second half wore on. From a Bradley Barcola effort (47’) to an Ousmane Dembélé shot from an exquisite Barcola pass (52’), the chances rained down...

The Parisians' attack was on fire. But at the other end of the pitch, the rearguard was just as inspired. Led by the impeccable Marquinhos and athletic Willian Pacho, with the industrious and tireless midfield, it was a truly royal Paris Saint-Germain, dominating in all areas of the game. There was no further change to the scoring in the second period, despite several flashes of brilliance from those in Rouge et Bleu.

The final whistle confirmed the capital club’s position at the top of the league standings, as attentions now turn to the visit of Racing Club de Lens to the Parc des Princes on Saturday 2 November... Paris est magique!