Paris Saint-Germain - Olympique de Marseille: The preview
Men's football•
Join us to look ahead to Sunday’s Classique at the Parc des Princes (8:45pm CET).
Damien Mittereau
In this article
February has barely started and this will already be the third Classique of the season. The first went OM's way at the Vélodrome (1-0) while the second was Paris Saint-Germain's as they claimed the Trophée des Champions in a thriller in Kuwait last month (2-2, 4-1 pens.).
This time round, the Red-and-Blues have the chance to reinforce their position at the top of the table. Currently top with 48 points, OM are third nine points back in the Ligue 1 table. Where will the teams stand come Sunday evening?
4 – Gonçalo Ramos has scored four goals in all competitions against Marseille for Paris Saint-Germain, his best return against any club.
10 – Paris have kept a clean sheet in 10 of their last 15 Ligue 1 games against Marseille, conceding just five goals in that time.
16 – Paris have won 16 of their last 18 home games against Marseille in all competitions, losing just once in that run.
In goal, Roberto De Zerbi is likely to rely once again on Gerónimo Rulli. Though he was outdone by Lucas Chevalier in the Trophée des Champions penalty shoot-out last month, the Argentina international remains a key part of the OM set-up. He should have compatriots Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina in front of him with either Benjamin Pavard or Nayef Aguerd filling the last spot in the back three.
As for the wing-backs, Emerson should start on the left with Timothy Weah on the right, while Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will be the key man in midfield.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man could start alongside Quinten Timber, freshly arrived from Feyenoord. The Netherlands international has adapted quickly to his new club and could get the nod ahead of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Bilal Nadir and Tochukwu Nnadi. Ethan Nwaneri, who joined OM on loan from Arsenal last month, could make an appearance off the bench, as could another new signing, Algeria international Himad Abdelli, who would make his debut for the club.
Mason Greenwood (22 goals, 8 assists in all competitions this season) will be the visitors' main threat. He won't be alone though Igor Paixão (9 goals, 4 assists) has impressed on the left and should start ahead of Hamed Traoré. Through the middle, De Zerbi will have to choose between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (10 goals, 10 assists) and Amine Gouiri (7 goals, 3 assists), both of whom scored in the midweek Coupe de France Last 16 win over Rennes.