PSG extends Ligue 1 unbeaten run to 34 games with win over Marseille
Paris St Germain survived a stern examination from Marseille to maintain their domination in Le Classique.
The runaway Ligue 1 leaders were second best for long periods at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday night, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria gave them a 2-1 victory to extend their record unbeaten league run to 34 games.
Marseille had the consolation of scoring the best goal on the night when Remy Cabella capped his lung-bursting run with a firm finish to temporarily bring his side level.
Defeat was tough on the hosts, who had not beaten PSG in 10 attempts and came into the contest 32 points adrift of Laurent Blanc's champions.
PSG had to contend with a hostile atmosphere with their fans banned from the fixture, while some of their players had to contend with bottles being thrown at them.
But the capital club had the perfect start inside two minutes when Maxwell broke down the left to deliver a cross for Ibrahimovic to tap home his 11th goal in nine games.
Ibrahimovic's 21st league goal of the season was the fastest ever in La Classique and silenced the Stade Velodrome temporarily.
It was a lead that should have been doubled when Blaise Matuidi's defense-splitting pass put Di Maria through, but the Argentinian winger dragged his shot badly wide.
Marseille took advantage of that escape to push PSG back and the hosts had the better of the first half from that point.
Cabella brought a first save from Kevin Trapp before the German goalkeeper was forced to tip over Brice Dja Djedje's drive from distance.
And Marseille really should have equalised when Dja Djedje's drilled cross struck Thiago Silva inside the penalty area after 21 minutes.
The ball fall perfectly into the path of Abdel Barrada, but the midfielder blazed his effort over.
Five minutes later, however, Marseille were level as Cabella conjured up a moment of brilliance.
Cabella's 50-yard run took him past Thiago Silva and outside Thiago Motta before unleashing a 20-yard shot which went through the legs of David Luiz.
Trapp appeared unsighted and, although he got a hand on the ball, he could not keep it out of his net.
PSG were a long way below their usual high standards, but Di Maria's floated pass gave Lucas Moura an inviting opportunity which he wasted.
And they were fortunate to be level at half-time after Maxwell's header off the line denied Michy Batshuayi.
Marseille kept up the pressure at the start of the second half and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou tested Trapp low to his right after shaking off Adrien Rabiot.
But PSG gradually established a foothold and Ibrahimovic, moments after wasting Matuidi's good work down the left, played a crucial role in Di Maria's 71st-minute winner.
The striker beat Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to a loose ball and Di Maria accepted his pass to rifle home into the bottom corner.
Marseille sent on loan signing Steven Fletcher for his debut in their search for an equalizer and Nkoudou almost grabbed a share of the spoils late on, but they could not find a second goal.
Saint-Etienne romped to a 4-1 win away to Bordeaux to move level on points with third-place Nice in the French league on Sunday.
Midfielder Vincent Pajot and new signing Oussama Tannane scored inside the first seven minutes against a week Bordeaux defense that has conceded 12 goals in four games.
Although defender Cedric Yambere pulled a goal back in the 10th, Saint-Etienne scored in the second half through strikers Alexander Soderlund in the 70th and Nolan Roux four minutes later.
Bordeaux striker Cheick Diabate was sent off in injury time.
Nice leads Saint-Etienne on goal difference.
Also, striker Eder scored his first goal for Lille, but Ousmane Dembele's 89th-minute penalty earned Rennes a 1-1 draw.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
