Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Marseille: Player ratings as PSG triumph in Le Classique

Paris Saint-Germain moved within four points of the Ligue 1 title with a 2-1 win at home to Marseille in Le Classique.

Mauricio Pochettino's side were deserved leaders heading into half-time before putting in a battling second-half display to claim the points and the bragging rights.

The hosts took the lead with their first chance of the game with ten minutes on the clock. Marco Verratti perfectly picked out the run of Neymar, who snuck in behind Valentin Rongier and lifted the ball ever so delicately over the stranded Pau Lopez and into the net.

Kylian Mbappe somehow missed a chance to double the lead when slipped through one-on-one with Lopez by Danilo Pereira, dragging his shot wide of the Spaniard's goal.

And Marseille grabbed an equaliser from a corner after a howler from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who flapped at Dimitri Payet's cross and allowed Duje Caleta-Car to sweep home.

A fierce Neymar free-kick stung the palms of Lopez before a glancing header from Mbappe dropped the wrong side of the post as PSG went in search of a second.

Neymar and Mbappe's ingenuity continued to carve Marseille open, but it was Lionel Messi who was next to find the net. However, his strike was ruled out as the assisting Nuno Mendes was offside during the build-up.

Lopez twice in quick succession denied Neymar from mere yards out though again the offside flag was raised, and on the stroke of half-time the pressure told as PSG were awarded a penalty after a VAR check for an incident in which there were two handball claims, with Rongier and Gerson the guilty parties.

Mbappe stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, emphatically stroking into the left-hand corner to restore the lead in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

A rather dire second half threatened to spark into life when Messi sliced the Marseille defence wide open to pick out Mbappe, but the Frenchman was unable to get a shot away.

Mbappe did have the ball in the net but again PSG had a goal ruled out for offside, and the hosts were handed a reprieve when William Saliba's equaliser from a Dimitri Payet free-kick was chalked off by VAR for a similar infringement.

PSG rode out six minutes of stoppage time to seal a crucial win as their reclamation of the French title nears its conclusion.

PSG vs Marseille player ratings

1. PSG (4-3-3)

Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) - 2/10 - Came and missed a couple of crosses prior to his eventual error. Uncomfortable with the ball at his feet. A dreadful performance.

Achraf Hakimi (RB) - 5/10 - Got double teamed by Gueye and Gerson on several occasions.

Marquinhos (CB) - 6/10 - Was generally fine and rarely troubled.

Presnel Kimpembe (CB) - 6/10 - Ditto. Had to bail out Donnarumma.

Nuno Mendes (LB) - 7/10 - Solid at the back and stretched Marseille going forward.

Marco Verratti (CM) - 7/10 - Grabbed a beautiful assist for Neymar's opener. Picked up his 13th yellow card of the season.

Danilo Pereira (CM) - 6/10 - His passing was surprisingly impressive while he got stuck in as per.

Idrissa Gueye (CM) - 5/10 - Missed the chance to pick out a killer pass several times.

Lionel Messi (RF) - 7/10 - Created plenty of trouble despite looking a shadow of his former self.

Kylian Mbappe (CF) - 7/10 - Similarly caused mischief though would have liked to have dealt more damage.

Neymar (LF) - 8/10 - A vintage performance, rolling back the years to torment Marseille. Was lucky not to receive a second yellow card for dissent.

SUB: Georginio Wijnaldum (CM, 80' for Gueye) - N/A

SUB: Sergio Ramos (CB, 88' for Verratti) - N/A

SUB: Mauro Icardi (CF, 90' for Mbappe) - N/A

2. Marseille (4-3-3)

Pau Lopez (GK) - 6/10 - The Spaniard spent a season under Pochettino at Tottenham, playing a grand total of zero games.

Valentin Rongier (RB) - 2/10 - Torn apart by Neymar. Guilty of switching off far too often.

William Saliba (CB) - 5/10 - Got swarmed by PSG's front three at times.

Duje Caleta-Car (CB) - 6/10 - As easy a goal as you'll ever see while he stood firm at the back.

Luan Peres (LB) - 5/10 - Found it tough dealing with Messi but a little easier with Hakimi.

Boubacar Kamara (DM) - 7/10 - Dropped between the centre-backs at times. Looked calm and composed wherever he was.

Matteo Guendouzi (CM) - 6/10 - Played full of confidence but was a little too wasteful.

Pape Gueye (CM) - 5/10 - Roamed down the left channel to cause Hakimi some headaches.

Cengiz Under (RF) - 2/10 - Completely diminished by Mendes. Hooked at the break

Dimitri Payet (CF) - 3/10 - Had to drop very deep to try and get involved. Marseille were worse off without a recognised striker.

Gerson (LF) - 4/10 - Found it hard to get into the game. Relied on Gueye to do a lot of his heavy lifting.

SUB: Amine Harit (RF, 45' for Under) - 4/10 - Caused Mendes more problems in 30 seconds than Under did in 45 minutes.

SUB: Pol Lirola (RB, 77' for Rongier) - 4/10

SUB: Bamba Dieng (CF, 81' for Gueye) - N/A

SUB: Cedric Bakambu (CF, 90' for Caleta-Car) - N/A