Paris Saint-Germain will host arch-rivals Marseille in the highly-anticipated Le Classique clash on Sunday, with Luis Enrique’s side looking to extend their dominance in Ligue 1. Unbeaten in the league this season and boasting a 16-point lead at the top, PSG are on course for a 13th league title.
Fresh from their Champions League triumph over Liverpool, PSG will be aiming for their seventh consecutive league victory and their 52nd overall win in this historic rivalry. The Parisians have won the last six Ligue 1 meetings against Marseille, including five clean sheets, and scored three or more goals in five of their previous six games. With Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola leading the attack, PSG will be confident of another dominant performance.
Marseille, currently second in the table, are fighting to secure a Champions League spot as catching PSG seems nearly impossible. Under Roberto De Zerbi, Les Olympiens have shown glimpses of brilliance but have struggled in recent away fixtures, losing to both Nice and Auxerre without scoring. With Mason Greenwood leading the line and scoring 15 goals this season, Marseille will hope to end their four-game losing streak against PSG.
PSG’s attacking trio of Dembélé, Barcola, and Gonçalo Ramos have been in sensational form, with Dembélé scoring 20 league goals and leading the home scoring charts with ten strikes at Parc des Princes. Midfield maestro Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz will control the tempo, while Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Hernandez provide width from the back. The return of captain Marquinhos will further strengthen the defense.
Marseille, however, face a major injury crisis, with Amine Harit, Faris Moumbagna, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Michael Murillo, and Ruben Blanco all ruled out. This leaves De Zerbi with limited options in midfield and defense. Greenwood’s partnership with Amine Gouiri will be crucial in exploiting PSG’s occasional defensive lapses, especially with the Parisians managing just one clean sheet in their last 11 home games.
PSG’s incredible home record, with 22 wins in their last 27 Ligue 1 matches, makes them the clear favorites. Marseille’s inability to find the net in two of their last three away games, coupled with their poor defensive record against PSG, further tilts the balance in the Parisians’ favor.
With Dembélé and Barcola in red-hot form and Mason Greenwood carrying Marseille’s attacking hopes, fans can expect an entertaining clash. However, PSG’s quality and depth are likely to prove too much for an injury-hit Marseille side.
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Marseille
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