Two Ligue 1 giants collide this weekend in an event marked in every French football fan’s calendar, when Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille do battle in the 86th edition of ‘Le Classique’ in the top-flight. However this clash comes at a bad time for the Parisians who have shown signs of fatigue lately with a hat-trick of draws, although they might take confidence from the fact they’ve won their fourth game on all three previous occasions in which that happened during PSG’s Qatari era.
Kylian Mbappé’s exit due to injury during PSG’s midweek 1-1 draw against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) lengthened coach Christophe Galtier’s absentee list, and he will also have to possibly do without Lionel Messi who is an injury doubt while Sergio Ramos is suspended. The omens still look good for PSG on the H2H front however, winning 13 of the previous 15 competitive H2Hs at Parc des Princes (D1, L1).
Mentally boosted by their 2-0 UCL win away to Sporting in midweek, after a shock 2-1 home loss against rock-bottom Ajaccio in Ligue 1 last weekend, Marseille will look to go level with their fiercest rivals at the top of the Ligue 1 standings with a win in this derby clash. Knowing the importance of this game for fans, Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi stated his determination in midweek by saying his side “will do everything to win” this match.
The Olympians will have to do without the support of their fans though, as police have banned them from traveling to Paris, so the visiting Marseille players will subsequently wear a badge stating “as one” on their jersey to pay tribute to them. Their current impressive away form could be the key to replicating their 1-0 win here two years ago, as Marseille are still unbeaten on the road in Ligue 1 this season (W3, D1) after winning their last three league road trips ‘to nil”.
Players to watch: PSG could rely on Neymar for a good start as he’s scored before half-time in six of his last seven goalscoring Ligue 1 home matches, as well as in the previous H2H back in April. Marseille will hope Alexis Sánchez can find the net, given he has led his team to victory in his five goal-scoring matches in 2022/23 – the last four saw him score the second goal of the game.
Hot streak: The previous five Ligue 1 H2Hs have all featured a goalless second half.
Hertha Berlin Full Match in English please. Thank you. Love you.