Overview
After finishing second last season, 19 points behind PSG, Marseille have entered a new campaign in the hope of creating a real challenge. However, coach Roberto De Zerbi could not get off to a good start as expected.
The Italian captain has gone through a difficult first few weeks in his second season in charge, with an unstable squad and constantly rising controversies off the pitch. Les Olympiens are continuously inconsistent, both winning and losing, 6 points behind the defending champions.
Although Marseille showed impressive strength last weekend, crushing Lorient 4-0 without conceding, they could not maintain this momentum in the continental arena. They lost 1-2 to Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu.
Timothy Weah's opening goal made him the first Marseille player to score in the Champions League in 16 years. However, it was just a rare brilliant moment in a match where the French team failed to effectively take advantage of the advantage in terms of numbers.
Back in Ligue 1, Marseille head into the Le Classique this weekend with the belief that a win would help them narrow the gap to the top of the table. In addition, they are aiming for their seventh consecutive home win - an achievement that the team has not achieved since August 2014 to January 2015.
However, recent encounters at Velodrome have mostly been one-sided, with PSG unbeaten in 12 away games and winning nine. Therefore, the away team is clearly the strongest candidate to end Marseille's perfect streak at home.
In fact, recent confrontations no longer seem to be as plump as a derby, with PSG winning all 9 of their most recent Ligue 1 matches in Velodrome. That included a 3-0 win in the first leg of last season.
There is little sign that that dominance will soon end, as PSG have won all 5 matches since the beginning of the season, keeping a clean sheet in 4 of them.
Unlike the home team, PSG scored 4 goals against Atalanta in the Champions League, the perfect start to the journey to defend the title.
In Ligue 1, Luis Enrique's team is leading the rankings with 12 points, scoring 10 goals, while conceding only 3 goals. Their goal this weekend is to extend that impressive streak.
Personnel situation
Marseille entered the Le Classique this weekend without Hamed Traore, who was absent from the Bernabeu trip due to a thigh injury. Therefore, Timothy Weah is almost certain to keep the left wing position after an impressive performance.
Summer signing Nayef Aguerd is also still unable to play after being injured in his debut match against Lorient. His ability to feature in the match this weekend has become fragile.
Center back Egan-Riley has qualified to return after being suspended in the previous match, but his starting position is still not guaranteed.
Meanwhile, PSG easily overcame Atalanta in midweek despite not having the services of 2 key players. They are Ballon d'Or candidate Ousmane Dembele ( calf injury) and winger Desire Doue ( thigh injury).
Central midfielder Joao Neves had to practice to leave the field in that match and was left out of the squad. Meanwhile, defender Lucas Beraldo is rushing to recover from an ankle injury.
Expected lineup:
Marseille: Rulli, Medina, Pavard, Balerdi, Murillo, Kondogbia, Hojbjerg, Weah, O'Riley, Greenwood, Gouiri.
PSG: Chevalier, Mendes, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hakimi, Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz, Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Barcola.
The match between Marseille and PSG takes place at 1:00 am on September 23 (Vietnam time).
