PSG Edge Paris FC in Fiery Derby to Open 2026 on a Winning Note
- Paris Saint Germain were pushed hard by city rivals Paris FC but held their nerve to claim a 2-1 derby victory at Parc des Princes, moving within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Lens.
Paris Saint Germain began the new year with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Paris FC in a tense Ligue 1 derby at Parc des Princes, a result that underlined both their dominance and their lingering vulnerabilities.
Luis Enrique’s side controlled large stretches of the contest, dictating possession and territory, but were forced to dig deep after being stunned by an early second-half equaliser. PSG’s patience finally paid off just before the break when Desire Doue broke the deadlock in the 45th minute. Fabian Ruiz capitalised on a loose touch in midfield before slipping the ball into Doue’s path, and the young forward kept his composure to fire past Kevin Trapp for a deserved lead.
The hosts appeared set to take full control after the interval, only for Paris FC to flip the script almost immediately. Alimami Gory burst in behind the PSG defence to latch onto a long pass from Otavio before being brought down by Ilya Zabarnyi in the box. Referee Benoit Bastien pointed straight to the spot, and Willem Geubbels made no mistake, calmly slotting home his penalty to silence the home crowd.
PSG’s response, however, was swift and decisive. Just two minutes later, Ousmane Dembele reminded everyone of his growing influence in this side. Cutting inside from the left, the winger unleashed a low effort that took a deflection off Moustapha Mbow, wrong-footing Trapp and nestling into the net to restore PSG’s lead.
From there, PSG managed the game with authority rather than flair. They monopolised possession, limited Paris FC to hopeful forays forward, and ensured there were no further scares despite late pressure from the visitors. While the scoreline remained tight, the underlying numbers reflected PSG’s control, finishing with a slightly superior xG and far more final-third entries.
The win moves PSG within a single point of league leaders Lens and provides momentum ahead of a mouth-watering Trophee des Champions clash against Marseille later this week. For Paris FC, the performance offered encouragement despite another defeat, with their discipline and resilience suggesting they are better than their current league position indicates.
