The China Mail - Doue, Dembele light up first Paris derby in over 35 years

Victory for Luis Enrique's second-placed PSG, thanks to goals either side of half-time by Doue and Dembele, took them back to within one point of surprise league leaders Lens.

The last time PSG lost at home to a newly-promoted side was in May 2010 when they went down 3-1 to Montpellier.

But there were few chances of that streak being broken in the first top-division Paris derby since February 25, 1990, when Racing Paris 1 beat PSG 2-1 at the Parc des Princes home that they shared.

None of the starters on either side at the Parc on Sunday were born when that match took place, and both clubs are a world away from where they were nearly 36 years ago.

PSG, backed by Qatar since 2011, have won 12 of their 13 French domestic crowns since then, as well as the Champions League last season.

If they are the top dogs in the City of Light, PFC's solid showing firmly cemented their place as the second strongest side in Paris after they were invested in by the Arnault family -- owners of LVMH -- last season and promptly won promotion to Ligue 1.

Dominant PSG thought they had a penalty midway through the opening period when Doue burst into the box and was felled by Otavio but a VAR review adjudged the initial contact to have been outside the box.

But the 20-year-old left nothing up to VAR the next time he found himself driving into the PFC area as he perfectly timed his run onto Fabian Ruiz's pass on 45 minutes and hammered the ball past Kevin Trapp.

The second period started in chaotic fashion as Illya Zabarnyi upended Alimami Gory in the box and Willem Geubbels levelled for the visitors on 51 minutes.

Parity lasted only two minutes, however, as Ballon d'Or holder Dembele cut in and struck a left-footed effort, which took a huge deflection on its way past a helpless Trapp.

PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was called into action on a couple of occasions in the remainder of the match, but the reigning champions were able to keep PFC at arm's length to win a long-awaited encounter.

- Ill-disciplined Marseille -

Red cards either side of the interval for Arthur Vermeeren and Bilal Nadir, coupled with a Fabien Centonze strike and a late Remy Cabella penalty, condemned Marseille to a 2-0 defeat to lowly Nantes as Roberto De Zerbi's team remain eight points off the pace.

Crucially, the loss was also a missed opportunity for third-placed Marseille to open up a gap with the chasing pack for the final automatic Champions League qualification spot as they failed to capitalise on fourth-placed Lille's 2-0 defeat to Rennes on Saturday.

With just their third victory of the season, Nantes have climbed out of the relegation zone at the expense of Auxerre, who lost 2-0 at Brest later in the day.

"It gives us a boost," Nantes coach Ahmed Kantari said. "There's the satisfaction of taking three points. We're in a race for points, so it feels good.

"When we win, we feel lighter and more confident."

Marseille handed Nantes the numerical advantage on 26 minutes as Vermeeren was dismissed for an overexuberant challenge on Anthony Lopes as he tried to charge down the goalkeeper's clearance.

The visitors then took the lead five minutes later as Centonze pounced on a weak parry to open the scoring.

Substitute Nadir was dismissed after collecting a pair of yellow cards in the space of two minutes early in the second half.

A clumsy Benjamin Pavard challenge on Matthis Abline in the Marseille box then presented Nantes with the chance to secure the three points, which Cabella duly did from 12 yards with just two minutes remaining on the clock.

Elsewhere, Lorient drew 1-1 with bottom-side Metz and Le Havre beat Angers 2-1.

J.Liv--ThChM