Paris Saint-Germain won the city derby » The European champion remains in 2nd place in France
Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Monday, 05 January 2026, 00:22 / Updated on Monday, 05 January 2026 00:24
Paris Saint-Germain started the year right, winning the city derby against Paris FC, score 2-1, in a match played at the Parc des Princes. The win keeps the Parisians in second place in Ligue 1, just one point behind leaders RC Lens.
Ahead of the clash, PSG badly needed the three points after Lens had already won this round and Marseille had suffered a surprise defeat at Nantes, a team in the fight to avoid relegation.
PSG, dominance without many opportunities in the first half
The band prepared by Luis Enrique met a well-organized opponent who closed the spaces and limited the clear opportunities in the first 15 minutes. The Parisians asked for a penalty in the 27th minute, after a duel on Desiré Doue, but the decision was canceled after the VAR analysis, the referee only awarding a free kick from the edge of the box.
The pressure exerted by the hosts materialized just before the break. Desiré Doue opened the scoring in the 45th minute after a defensive error by Paris FC. Soon after, Nuno Mendes went close to making it 2-0, but his long-range shot went just wide of the crossbar.
Emotions after the break, decisive Ousmane Dembele
The surprise came at the restart. Paris FC equalized from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, through Guebbels, after Illia Zabarnyi, who started in place of Marquinhos, fouled Gory in the box.
However, PSG's reaction was immediate. Just two minutes away, Ousmane Dembele put the hosts back in front. The Frenchman's shot, nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, was deflected and didn't give goalkeeper Kevin Trapp a chance (53').
In the final 20 minutes, the tempo of the game dropped noticeably amid numerous changes, but PSG controlled the final and secured an important victory in the title race.
Next up is the duel with Marseille for the first trophy of the year
For Paris Saint-Germain, the next match will be one with stakes. The European champions will travel to Kuwait, where they will meet Olympique Marseille in the “Trophee des Champions” final. The Parisians have the chance to win the first trophy of the year, right in front of their great rival.
