Neymar sees red as PSG fails Classique test
Paris Saint-Germain's poor start to its Ligue 1 defence continued today as it fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Marseille in a foul-tempered Classique that saw five players, including Neymar, sent off
Having been without seven first-team stars for Friday's (AEST) loss to Lens, Thomas Tuchel was able to welcome four of his regulars back into the fold on Monday (AEST), yet it was Andre Villas-Boas' side, which lost 4-0 in the corresponding fixture last season, that claimed the points at Parc des Princes, where a limited number of fans were allowed in attendance.
Florian Thauvin's 31st-minute volley settled the encounter, which ended in chaotic scenes as referee Jerome Brisard dished out red cards like confetti after a stoppage-time brawl.
Neymar, who earlier missed a golden chance, was among them, with the forward receiving his marching orders for hitting Alvaro, who he seemingly accused of racism when speaking to the fourth official as he left the field.
Leandro Paredes reacted violently to a foul from countryman Dario Benedetto, with both Argentinians dismissed along with Layvin Kurzawa and Jordan Amavi for their parts in the ensuing fracas.
Steve Mandanda made a spectacular save from Marco Verratti early on, and the tone for the match was set when Neymar and Dimitri Payet, who retweeted a tweet mocking PSG after its defeat at Lens, were booked for their involvement in a fracas.
Payet had the final word in that duel, though, dropping a precise free-kick over the top of PSG's defence, with Thauvin on hand to finish brilliantly on the volley, and the goal standing after a VAR (video assistant referee) check for offside.
Mandanda twice made superb saves as PSG piled on the pressure after the restart, denying Pablo Sarabia and Neymar.
PSG thought it had equalised when Gueye slipped in Angel Di Maria, only for the offside flag to cut short its celebrations.
Benedetto saw an effort ruled out for a marginal offside at the other end, but Marseille held firm to end a dreadful run against its rival, Neymar's miss from two yards out summing up a frustrating night for PSG.
Yet there was to be significant drama in stoppage-time, as Benedetto provoked Parades, with both players receiving their second yellow cards.
Amavi and Kurzawa were also dismissed as the teams clashed on the field, with Brisard then consulting VAR and having little option but to dismiss Neymar for a punch in an ugly finale.
