Marseille will welcome Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 season’s first La Classique this Sunday.
The eyes of French football turn to the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday night as Olympique Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain renew hostilities in the latest edition of Le Classique. This will be the 110th competitive meeting between the two giants of French football, and it arrives at a time when Marseille are languishing in mid-table while PSG are setting the early pace at the summit.
Last season’s runners-up, Marseille entered this campaign with ambitions of narrowing the 19-point gulf that separated them from PSG. Yet, Roberto De Zerbi’s second year in charge has begun in frustrating fashion. A mix of off-field distractions and erratic form has left Les Olympiens with six points from their first four Ligue 1 matches, already six behind the champions.
There have been flashes of promise. A resounding 4-0 dismantling of Lorient last weekend briefly suggested that Marseille had rediscovered their cutting edge. However, their midweek Champions League outing ended in disappointment, as they fell 2-1 to Real Madrid despite holding a man advantage for much of the second half. Timothy Weah’s opener made him Marseille’s first debutant to score in the competition for 16 years, but the joy proved fleeting as defensive lapses cost them dearly.
Back on home soil, Marseille will hope the atmosphere of the Vélodrome can inspire them. A win on Sunday would not only cut the deficit to PSG but also extend their home winning streak in Ligue 1 to seven games – something the club has not achieved since 2015. Yet history does not favour them: PSG are unbeaten in their last 12 league visits to Marseille, winning nine and keeping clean sheets in each of the last six.
By contrast, PSG travel south brimming with confidence. Luis Enrique’s men have started the season in dominant fashion, taking 12 points from a possible 12 in Ligue 1 and adding a statement 4-1 Champions League win over Atalanta in midweek. That result showcased both their attacking depth and defensive solidity, hallmarks of a side determined to defend their domestic and continental crowns.
In the league, PSG have already scored 10 goals, the second-highest tally in the division, while conceding only three. Their defensive strength has been particularly notable, with four clean sheets across all competitions since August.
The weight of recent history also tilts heavily in their favour. PSG have won each of the last nine Ligue 1 editions of Le Classique, including last season’s emphatic 3-0 triumph at the Velodrome. With their momentum at full tilt, the champions arrive as clear favourites to extend both their unbeaten run and their dominance over their fiercest rivals. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Olympique Marseille
Marseille will go into Le Classique with some notable absences. Winger Hamed Traore remains sidelined after suffering a thigh injury that kept him out of the midweek UEFA Champions League defeat at the Bernabeu. His absence opens the door for Timothy Weah to continue on the left flank, with the American international impressing last time out.
Summer signing Nayef Aguerd is also a serious doubt after sustaining a head injury on his debut against Lorient, and the Moroccan defender is unlikely to be risked. On a brighter note, CJ Egan-Riley has served his suspension and is back in contention, though competition for places at centre-back means he may not be handed an immediate return to the starting XI.
Roberto De Zerbi is expected to stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Geronimo Rulli will line up in goal, supported by a back four of Facundo Medina at right-back, Benjamin Pavard and Leonardo Balerdi in central defence, and Amir Murillo at left-back. The double pivot in midfield is likely to feature Geoffrey Kondogbia alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, tasked with both shielding the defence and initiating transitions.
Further forward, Timothy Weah should keep his place on the left wing, while Matt O’Riley will operate as the central playmaker and Mason Greenwood will start on the right. Leading the line, Amine Gouiri is expected to spearhead the attack, providing a focal point against PSG’s disciplined defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Medina, Pavard, Balerdi, Murillo; Kondogbia, Hojbjerg; Weah, O’Riley, Greenwood; Gouiri
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain head into Le Classique with a few injury concerns despite their impressive midweek performance against Atalanta. Ousmane Dembele, a leading contender for the Ballon d’Or, remains unavailable due to a calf injury, while Desire Doue is also ruled out after sustaining a thigh problem. Both absentees limit Luis Enrique’s attacking options on the flanks.
Midfield dynamo Joao Neves, who limped off in the UEFA Champions League victory, has been ruled out as well, leaving a significant gap in the centre of the park. Meanwhile, defender Lucas Beraldo is facing a race against time to recover from an ankle sprain, making his involvement uncertain.
Luis Enrique is expected to stick with his trusted 4-3-3 setup. Lucas Chevalier will continue in goal, supported by a back four of Nuno Mendes at left-back, Marquinhos and Willian Pacho forming the central defensive partnership, and Achraf Hakimi operating on the right. In midfield, Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz will combine to dictate possession and provide balance between attack and defence.
Up front, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will bring creativity and flair from the left wing, Goncalo Ramos is set to lead the line as the central striker, and Bradley Barcola will provide width and pace on the right, looking to stretch Marseille’s backline.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Chevalier; Mendes, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hakimi; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Barcola
Key Stats
-
This will be the 110th competitive encounter between Marseille and PSG. The Parisians have faced only Monaco (115 times) and Lyon (111 times) more often in their history.
-
Marseille are winless in their last 12 Ligue 1 home matches against PSG (D3 L9), their longest winless run against a single opponent. They have also failed to score at the Vélodrome in the last six top-flight meetings with PSG, marking their longest such streak against any club.
-
After their 4-0 victory over Lorient last weekend, Marseille could record back-to-back clean sheets in Ligue 1 for the first time since December 2023.
-
A win would give PSG five victories from their opening five Ligue 1 fixtures for the fourth time in the last nine seasons (after 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2021/22). The last team other than PSG to achieve such a start was Marseille in 2012/13.
-
Les Olympiens have won each of their last six Ligue 1 home matches, their longest run in almost a decade. The last time they managed a longer streak was between August 2014 and January 2015 under Marcelo Bielsa (11 straight wins).
Player to Watch
Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola has quietly emerged as one of PSG’s most influential performers this season, offering energy, direct running, and a constant threat from the right flank. With Ousmane Dembele sidelined, the 23-year-old has embraced the responsibility of providing width and penetration, stretching defences and creating space for the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Goncalo Ramos.
Barcola’s ability to isolate full-backs and drive into dangerous areas makes him a pivotal figure in Luis Enrique’s 4-3-3 system. His dribbling skills and willingness to press high also add a defensive edge, ensuring PSG can regain control quickly when possession is lost. Against Marseille’s compact defensive setup, his creativity and sharp movement could prove decisive in breaking through.
Having already shown his capacity to step up on the big stage, Barcola will relish the intensity of Le Classique. If he finds space to exploit down the flanks, he could well be the difference-maker on Sunday night.
Prediction
Olympique Marseille 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Marseille will rely heavily on the cauldron-like atmosphere of the Velodrome and their impressive home form, having won six Ligue 1 matches in a row on their own turf. Roberto De Zerbi’s side showed their attacking firepower against Lorient and will look to channel that momentum into France’s most high-profile fixture. However, their lengthy winless streak at home against PSG, stretching back over a decade, remains a major psychological barrier.
Paris Saint-Germain arrive in Marseille with confidence brimming after five consecutive wins across competitions and a convincing Champions League display against Atalanta. Luis Enrique’s men look balanced, resilient at the back, and sharp in transition, with Bradley Barcola and Co. offering pace and cutting edge in the final third. Even without Ousmane Dembele and Joao Neves, PSG possess the depth to maintain control in a high-pressure environment.
While Marseille will likely start brightly and push to unsettle the champions, PSG’s quality in key moments should prove decisive. Given their recent dominance in this fixture and their ability to absorb pressure before striking clinically, the Parisians appear favourites to extend their unbeaten run at the Velodrome.
