Le Classique derby prepares for a cracker with much more than just bragging rights on the line, as Marseille welcomes Paris Saint-Germain to the Orange Velodrome for Sunday’s headline act in Ligue 1.
The two bitter rivals occupy first and second place in the top-flight rankings ahead of this weekend’s finale, where Igor Tudor’s men could move to within just two points of the champions.
Having already denied PSG a chance of winning the Coupe de France this month, there should be no shreds of nervousness from the goal-happy Marseille crop, whose prolific tendencies were needed to see off an inspired Toulouse side last weekend.
Hence, Les Olympiens remain on the coat-tails of PSG in second place in the table – five points worse off than the champions – but Monaco and Lens are both within touching distance of Tudor’s side and can trouble the apple cart if results go their way this weekend.
Marseille has nine victories to shout about from 11 games in all competitions in 2023 – collecting a league-high 29 points on the road – but the bulk of their recent slip-ups have come on their patch.
Indeed, Marseille has only won three of their last eight home contests in Ligue 1 and has kept just two clean sheets at the Orange Velodrome all season long.
Death, taxes, and Lionel Messi scoring a last-gasp free-kick to save his manager’s job. Christophe Galtier’s PSG was obviously on course for a straightforward win over Lille last Sunday courtesy of early goals from Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, but Bafode Diakite, Jonathan David, and Jonathan Bamba silenced the Parc des Princes in the hour that followed.
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