This victory follows wins over Bratislava in the Champions League and Brest in Ligue 1, suggesting Paris’s season is finally underway. But the back-to-back European champions hardly produced a stunning performance at the Vélodrome, where Marseille resisted until the very end.

Against a superior side, Bruno Genesio’s players once again delivered a coherent and courageous display, but they still left with a defeat—their fifth in six matches this season. The applause from the Marseille crowd at the final whistle might slightly ease the pain.

After four straight losses, including in the Europa League, and with the clash against their old Parisian rivals seeming more uncertain than ever, Marseille fans were hardly passionate about this Classique on Sunday.

The Vélodrome was not full, and a few banners opposing owner Frank McCourt were unfurled as usual. In a subdued atmosphere, Dimitri Payet, who came to kick off the match, was the most applauded Marseille figure.

– Dembélé out of sorts –

But this Marseille side, already in the relegation zone and second from bottom at kick-off, made a strong start, helped by a PSG that was far from inspired.

Marseille, quickly deprived of the injured Paixao, chased the ball a lot, of course. But it was a contest because Paris did little with their possession.

The best chance of the first half was actually Marseille’s, with an action that ended in a rather unbelievable miss by Neal Maupay (36th minute). Then Ousmane Dembélé had another with a header (42nd), so offensive clumsiness was curiously shared.

At the break, the score was still 0-0 and the Vélodrome was once again proud of their Marseille.

After the restart, Dembélé, clearly not having a great evening, blasted a shot wide from the middle of the Virage Sud (53rd). Almost a year to the day, the PSG number 10 was celebrating his Ballon d’Or when Marseille beat 1-0 a PSG side whose minds were on the Théâtre du Châtelet.

The scenario might have repeated itself if Maupay had not missed another huge chance (62nd), just before both coaches turned to their benches, which are hardly comparable.

– Gomes’s revenge –

On the Paris side, Luis Enrique brought on Ferran Torres, scorer in the World Cup final, while Genesio introduced Keyliane Abdallah, who has 20 professional appearances.

Unsurprisingly, talent made the difference and Paris went ahead through their Spanish world champion: a perfect cross from Désiré Doué, a perfect run and a perfect header from Ferran Torres (1-0, 66th).

After that, Marseille had the courage to believe again and equalized through the much-criticized Angel Gomes, who scored after an action initiated by a Dembélé turnover, unsettled by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (1-1, 72nd).

But the Vélodrome’s hopes lasted only two minutes, enough for Marquinhos, who cannot stop scoring, to convert an excellent Nuno Mendes cross in two stages (2-1, 74th).

After that, the sending off of Timothy Weah (76th) made life easier for Paris, who controlled the game without putting it out of reach.

With the international break approaching, Paris’s goal in October will be to climb further up the table and look a bit more like back-to-back European champions. There is time.

For Marseille, 17th in the league, there is no money, no bench, and not many points either. They will have to find some.