Ligue 1 football will resume this weekend with one of the biggest rivalries in French football, as Marseille take on PSG in El Classique. The Big Game Focus has taken a look at this fixture with a few top tips for your consideration.
There will be no love lost at the Velodrome on Sunday, as unbeaten league leaders PSG enter the cauldron of animosity. The hosts have largely been inconsistent this season, but they would love nothing more to get one over their rivals in the north.
Recent meetings have unsurprisingly gone the visitor’s way, but Marseille have managed to earn a few draws during some of those encounters.
Both sides had disappointing results in Europe after Marseille lost 3-1 at home to Lazio in the Europa League and PSG were forced to share the spoils with Napoli in the Champions League. Both their managers will be looking for a response and it promises to be a tough match.
Betting preview
Considering they have won every league game this season, odds for PSG to win are normally very short. Because this is a derby though, anything can happen. It’s not often you can back the Parisians to win at odds of 1.45 so jump on that here.
Both sides have been involved in high scoring fixtures and to this end all of PSG’s last five outings have ended with Over 2.5 Goals and the same goes for three of Marseille’s last five. There is value in backing Over 2.5 Goals here at odds of 1.40.
Kylian Mbappe has five goals from his last three appearances and he makes an excellent choice for our Anytime Goalscorer market at odds of 1.60 here.
Team news
Presnel Kimpembe will not be available after being sent off against Lyon, whilst Lassana Diarra could start as Thomas Tuchel looks to rotate his midfield. Thilo Kehrer could be considered also in place of Thiago Silva who missed the midweek action in the Champions League.
Morgan Sanson could be asked to play in an attacking role as Flavian Thauvin is still a doubt after missing their match against Lazio. Luiz Gustavo and Lucas Ocampos will be back from suspension, whereas Duje Caleta-Car is set to partner Adil Rami in defence.
Possible line ups
Marseille: Mandanda, Sakai, Rami, Caleta-Car, Amavi, Strootman, Gustavo, Payet, Sanson, Ocampos, Germain.
PSG: Buffon, Meunier, Marquinhos, Kehrer, Bernat, Verratti, Diarra, Rabiot, Mbappe, Cavani, Neymar.