Paris - Marseille: 5 things to know before Le Classique
With the big game approaching at the Parc desPrinces against Marseille on the 11th match day of Ligue 1, here are 5 things to know before the game.
1 - The Ultimate Motivation
Only a few days after the Champions League, the Red and Blue are not done with the kind of games where nerves and physicality will be put to the test in a match that will mix as much intensity as excitement. Things are going well and there is more motivation than ever in the Parisian ranks, even if the team has played no less than 4 matches in only 10 days since the return from the international break.
"I think we are recovering well to be ready for Marseille. When we play a Classique, we always find the energy. We know that it is an important match for our supporters, and if they find the energy to support us then we will give everything to get the victory. Especially since we are at home in Paris," said Achraf Hakimi.
This is backed up by Christophe Galtier, who will experience his very first Classique as coach of Paris Saint-Germain: "We know that there are great expectations from our fans. I want to build on this feeling of pride, on this desire to make our fans proud at the Parc des Princes. I hope that we will have a total, complete match, and especially a nice victory so that our fans are proud of our team."
2 - Kylian's record-breaking attempt
We know that Kylian Mbappé likes to chase records as fast as he covers distance on the pitch. So it's a good thing that there's one on the horizon this Sunday night! If he scores against Marseille, the n°7 could become the top scorer in Le Classique in Ligue 1. Until then, the world champion is sharing the record with a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with no less than 7 goals against the Phocéens in the league.
- Kylian Mbappé - 7 goals
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 7 goals
- Pauleta - 5 goals
- Edinson Cavani - 5 goals
- Hervé Florès - 5 goals
A stat to make you believe? 4 of the last 5 Parisian goals in a Classique were scored either by Mbappé (2) or by Neymar Jr (2)!
3 - MESSI'S RETURN
Because it is a match that fascinates, that excites, that stresses as much as it fascinates, Le Classique is always a moment suspended in time for the supporters, and very anticipated by the players. So it's a good thing that we now know the 21 players selected by the coach to play this 11th match day of Ligue 1.
The nice surprise? The presence of Leo Messi in the list, which marks his return to the Parisian squad.
Good news when you consider the number 30's stats since the beginning of the season. Indeed, the Argentine has been decisive 16 times since the beginning of the season, in 13 games played: 8 goals and 8 assists. In the league alone, his 5 goals and 7 assists make him the best provider in Ligue 1, alongside a certain Neymar Jr.
4 - A royal Parc des Princes
It is a concrete box, a stadium where the fans' chants echo, a theatre of emotions, where moments hang in the air and the nets vibrate as loudly as the Auteuil stand shakes. The Parc des Princes is also an impregnable fortress, where no team managed to win in normal time last season. Stunning form at home, further fuelled this year with the invincibility of the Parisians in their backyard. In Ligue 1, the dynamic is the same, with the club of the capital undefeated in its last 26 league matches at home.
The same applies against Olympique de Marseille, as our Parisians have won 9 of their 11 visits to the Phocéens in Ligue 1 over the last decade, which makes them quite simply their favourite opponent at the Parc des Princes.
5 - Experience is everything
In the Parisian ranks, some can be proud of having participated in the more than perpetual domination of the capital club over the southerners during this last decade. This is the case for Marquinhos, who has never lost a single game against Marseille, in 17 Classiques played!
Marqui, captain invincible against Marseille
But this is also the case for Marco Verratti, who is the player who has played the most Classiques in the history of Paris Saint-Germain, with no less than 19 matches against the rivals from Marseille, including 17 in Ligue 1 alone. A record that represents experience for our Italian midfielder, who will be the most experienced player this Sunday, if he takes part in the match. No active player in the Marseille squad has played more Paris-Marseille matches than our little Italian.
