In one of the most highly anticipated fixtures of the Ligue 1 season, arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille will go head-to-head at the Parc des Princes on Sunday evening.
Both teams are coming off impressive performances in European competitions, setting the stage for an exhilarating encounter.
Match Preview
Paris Saint-Germain, the perennial Ligue 1 champions, have had a somewhat lackluster start to the season.
Currently sitting fifth in the table after five matches, they have recorded two wins, two draws, and one loss.
Despite a slow start, they showed signs of improvement with back-to-back victories against Lens (3-1) and Lyon (4-1), with Kylian Mbappe delivering stellar performances.
However, their momentum was halted by a 3-2 home defeat against Nice.
PSG will be eager to make a statement against their oldest rivals and capitalize on their dominant form.
On the other hand, Marseille enters the showdown after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Ajax in the Europa League.
They showcased great resilience, coming from 2-0 down and then 3-2 down to secure a point, thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace.
Marseille has been unbeaten in domestic competition this season, with two wins and three draws in Ligue 1.
They also boast the joint-best defensive record in the French top flight, having conceded just four goals in five games.
However, behind the scenes, things have been far from settled for Marseille.
Manager Marcelino recently resigned after only three months in charge, and former Marseille defender Jacques Abardonado has taken over on an interim basis.
This adds an element of uncertainty to their preparations for this crucial match.
Team News
Paris Saint-Germain will be without long-term injury absentees Presnel Kimpembe, Sergio Rico, and Nuno Mendes.
Additionally, Marco Asensio is expected to miss the clash due to a foot problem.
In their previous match against Borussia Dortmund, Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani joined Mbappe in PSG’s forward line, while Warren Zaire-Emery, Manuel Ugarte, and Vitinha occupied the midfield spots.
Manager Luis Enrique may introduce some changes to establish consistency.
Marseille’s injury list includes Pedro Ruiz and Ismaila Sarr, who will be sorely missed after their impressive performances.
Following the energy-draining draw against Ajax, caretaker boss Abardonado may make changes to keep the squad fresh. However, Aubameyang is expected to lead the attack once again.
Predicted Lineups
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma;
Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez;
Zaire-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha;
Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Lopez;
Clauss, Mbemba, Balerdi, Lodi;
Mughe, Rongier, Veretout, Correa;
Oliviera, Aubameyang
Match Prediction
Considering the history between these two teams, we can expect an exciting and high-scoring affair in Le Classique.
In their previous 20 encounters, 14 have produced at least three goals. Marseille has struggled against PSG, winning just two of their last 28 matches across all competitions.
Therefore, we predict Paris Saint-Germain to come out on top with a 3-1 victory.
