PSG can put an end to the Ligue 1 title race and assert their domestic dominance if they can manage to beat second-placed Marseille in this edition of Le Classique.
Luis Enrique will have been extremely satisfied with the way his players have been performing of late. After a bit of a wobble at the start of the season, the Spaniard has his PSG stars purring with confidence, especially after knocking Liverpool out of the UEFA Champions League ahead of the Ligue 1 outing against Marseille.
Liverpool and PSG re-convened at Anfield after the scenes in Paris a week before that. In the home clash, Les Parisiens utterly dominated the Reds only for a late smash-and-grab from Harvey Elliott. PSG did find their revenge moment, although it came very early in the game as an Ousmane Dembele strike proved enough to secure a win to then take the game into extra time and penalties.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had a solid game during regulation and extra time, and he was the hero in the penalty shootout. The Italian international saved shots from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones to help PSG seal their place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, in the latest edition of Le Classique, PSG can effectively end any chance of second-placed Marseille catching up, as Enrique’s men can open an unprecedented lead of 19 points at the top.
Marseille are on a four-match losing run in this fixture, and Roberto De Zerbi will be hoping to put a stop to that. Either way, the second-placed Ligue 1 side are also on an inconsistent run of form, losing their most recent league game at home to RC Lens.
On paper, there are massive gaps between the two sides that may not be possible for Marseille to bridge irrespective of what they do. The bigger problem for De Zerbi’s men is the relentless form in which PSG currently are, and they will not want to lose this fixture and let the Parisians open up an unassailable 19-point gap at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
Team News & Tactics
PSG
Luis Enrique is blessed with a fully-fit squad, although their most recent game against Liverpool did create a problem for key defender Marquinhos. The Brazilian international left the pitch late in the game to be replaced by Lucas Beraldo.
Enrique is unlikely to take any risks with Marquinhos, and there is a possibility that Beraldo comes into the starting lineup. With no real pressure in Ligue 1, the PSG manager could potentially make heavy rotations, although he will still keep those who will make sure the results go their way.
For instance, the Liverpool game was a bit physically taxing, which could see Achraf Hakimi sitting on the bench and allowing Warren Zaire-Emery to play as the right-back. Similarly, Lucas Hernandez could get some precious minutes under his belt as he replaces Nuno Mendes, while Willian Pacho keeps his place at the heart of the defence.
Vitinha remains a vital player for Enrique and is unlikely to be moved at this point, and the same might be the case for Fabian Ruiz. Lee Kang-in might come into the picture in the midfield three. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could be rested, and the impressive Desire Doue could come into the picture, while Goncalo Ramos could get a start in place of Ousmane Dembele.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Zaire-Emery, Beraldo, Pacho, Hernandez; Ruiz, Vitinha, Kang-In; Doue, Ramos, Barcola
Marseille
Marseille have some key stars missing from action, although there were no casualties from their most recent game against Lens. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ruben Blanco, Amine Harit and Faris Moumbagna are all absent from the visit to Paris.
Roberto De Zerbi will continue to set a back three for his defence, with Leonardo Balerdi and Geoffrey Kondogbia joining Michael Amir Murillo, who will go through an assessment period before the game as there are some doubts about his fitness.
Adrien Rabiot will continue playing a role leaning more towards attacking midfield, while Ismael Bennacer and Valentin Rongier will feature in a deeper role. De Zerbi will have Quentin Merlin and Luis Henrique as his wing-backs for this one, while Mason Greenwood and Amine Gouiri lead the line for Marseille against PSG on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Rulli; Murillo, Kondogbia, Balerdi; Henrique, Bennacer, Rongier, Merlin; Rabiot; Greenwood, Gouiri
Key Stats
- Paris Saint-Germain are undefeated in their last 27 matches in Ligue 1.
- Paris Saint-Germain have scored at least two goals in 15 of their last 18 home matches against Marseille in all competitions.
- Marseille have lost each of their last four games against PSG.
- Marseille are 16 points behind PSG in the Ligue 1 standings.
Player to Watch
Bradley Barcola
Barcelo had a quiet game by his standards despite producing some key moments in the match against Liverpool at Anfield. There is a feeling the French attacker might want to sharpen his game a bit to be in line with colleagues like Khvicha Kvaratshkelia and Ousmane Dembele.
Barcola has five match-winning goals this season, and that shows how important he is to this PSG side. Luis Enrique might rest Dembele for this one, which could place the spotlight on Barcola to produce the goods for his side against second-placed Marseille.
Prediction
PSG 3-1 Marseille
Marseille might have shown a desire and readiness to put up a fight in games, although their overall quality is dwarfed by those at PSG. Their unprecedented gap with the Parisians will take the pressure off Roberto De Zerbi’s men ahead of this clash, although the Italian tactician would still want to keep hold of the second spot to avoid any complications in their efforts to reach the UEFA Champions League for next term.
PSG, on the other hand, are on a solid run of form, and there is a feeling that no club in Ligue 1 might be able to catch up with them. Hence, there is every chance the Parisians continue their impressive record against Marseille and take another victory on Sunday in this edition of Le Classique. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Luis Enrique and his charges.
