Reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain host bitter rivals Olympique Marseille on Sunday in Le Classique, looking to register their ninth win in 11 league games. The visitors have won just once in their last five league games and now head to the Parc des Princes, a place they last won in 2009. Here’s the Big Game Focus. Bet on the game here.
PSG head into this on the back of a dominant 5-0 win in the Champions League inspired by a record-breaking performance from Kylian Mbappe who scored a hat-trick as a second-half substitute. The league leaders have also won seven of their last eight Ligue 1 games which means they are the most in-form team in France’s top flight. PSG have also beaten the visitors in all their seven meetings.
Marseille haven’t made a bad start under new manager former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas. After ten games, they’ve won four, drawn four and lost twice leaving them fourth in the table with 16 points. Still, their form in the last few games has been unconvincing. They’ve won just once in their last five games and are two points ahead of tenth-placed team Saint-Etienne.
Betting preview
PSG have won 16 of their last 18 matches against Marseille in all competitions. The hosts have won four of their last five league matches scoring four goals in each of their last two. They’ve scored three or more goals in three of their last five home games. Marseille also conceded three goals in their last away match which ended in defeat. The hosts have scored Over 2.5 Goals against Marseille in four of their last six meetings. Therefore, you can back the Home team to Win and score Over 2.5 Goals at odds of 1.55.
PSG have conceded just five goals in ten Ligue 1 matches this season. They have kept eight clean sheets in their last ten matches in all competitions. They’ve kept four clean sheets in five home games in the league this season. Meanwhile, Marseille haven’t scored in three of their last four encounters with PSG. You can back Both Teams to Score No at odds of 1.90.
Mbappe has scored four goals in six appearances against Olympique Marseille. He’s scored four goals in his last two appearances in all competitions. For that reason odds of 1.70 for Kylian Mbappe as Anytime Goalscorer are attractive.
Team news
Neymar is still out injured and won’t be available for this game. Juan Bernat is back from suspension and should come in for Layvin Kurzawa at left back. Idrissa Gueye is back in contention as well and could play some part. With Neymar out injured and Edinson Cavani not yet ready, Mauro Icardi and Mbappé could start in a central two.
Dimitri Payet and Morgan Sanson are back from suspension and both should feature. Álvaro González is a doubt in central defence, meaning Duje Caleta-Car could partner Boubacar Kamara. Florian Thauvin will not be available for the visitors.
Possible line-ups
PSG: Navas, Meunier, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat. Marquinhos, Herrera, Verratti, Mbappe, Di Maria, Icardi
Marseille: Mandanda, Sarr, Caleta-Car, Camara, Sakai, Rongier, Strootman, Sanson, Payet, Khaoui, Benedetto