One of several blockbuster battles taking place on the Easter weekend, Ligue 1 powerhouses Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain cross paths for the latest instalment of Le Classique on Sunday evening.
Les Olympiens return to their Orange Velodrome base on the back of a two-game losing run, while the reigning champions hit Montpellier HSC for six before the international break.
Match preview
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The customary new manager bounce has firmly worn off for Marseille and head coach Jean-Louis Gasset, whose appointment to succeed Gennaro Gattuso rightfully raised plenty of eyebrows given his striking Ivory Coast sacking midway through the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the unpopular board's bold decision was vindicated straight away, as Gasset began life at Les Olympiens with a fantastic five-game winning sequence, and even his first loss in the hotseat - a 3-1 beatdown versus Villarreal - was inconsequential after a 4-0 first-leg win in their Europa League last-16 battle.
Three days later, though, Marseille would slump to a consequential 2-0 loss to Rennes in top-flight action, as an early Martin Terrier strike and late Benjamin Bourigeaud penalty ensured that Gasset's men would spend the international break outside of the European positions.
Residing in seventh place in the standings with a three-point gap to make up to Lens - who square off with Lille on Saturday - Marseille's best bet for a return to continental action may be via the continent itself; an intriguing Europa League quarter-final with Benfica is on the April agenda.
However, confidence can certainly be taken from the hosts' masterful form at the Orange Velodrome, where they are on a four-game winning streak in all competitions - scoring at least twice in all of those victories - and have only suffered one 'defeat' all season, a penalty-shootout loss to Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying.
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Even on that occasion, Marseille were 2-1 victors on the night before failing to remain composed from the 12-yard mark, meaning that PSG pit their wits against a side who are yet to find themselves on the wrong end of a 90-minute scoreline at home all season long.
Now that the Kylian Mbappe dust has settled, though, the capital behemoths have reverted to type and closed out the first quarter of 2024 with a two-game winning sequence, sinking Nice in the Coupe de France before a Ligue 1 lashing of Montpellier HSC.
Reinstated to the starting lineup and completing an increasingly rare 90 minutes, Real Madrid-bound Mbappe took home the match ball from that 6-2 thriller, where Lee Kang-in, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes also found the mark to end a run of three consecutive draws in the top flight.
PSG's status as champions-elect was never in any real danger during their plateau, though - their lead over second-placed Brest stands at 12 points with eight games to go - and Enrique's men head to a fiery Orange Velodrome with a 24-game unbeaten run to protect.
Across Europe's big five leagues, only Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester City are also unbeaten in all competitions in 2024, and recent Classique history also favours the men in navy blue; each of their last two clashes with Marseille have ended in victory by an aggregate score of 7-0.
Team News
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The Marseille medical team have been forced to work overtime ahead of Sunday's tantalising derby, but there is not thought to be any hope for winger Ismaila Sarr, who is reportedly set to miss this match and the next three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Right-back Jonathan Clauss sustained a similar issue while on France duty and could also spend a month on the sidelines, joining fellow defenders Amir Murillo (muscle), Samuel Gigot (shoulder), Bamo Meite (ankle), Leonardo Balerdi (fitness) and Ulisses Garcia in the infirmary, as well as knee surgery victim Valentin Rongier and another midfielder in Jean Onana.
However, Balerdi and Gigot might be able to reinforce Gasset's decimated backline against the champions, otherwise the hosts will have to dip into their B team ranks to even put a rearguard together.
PSG are not without their own defensive concerns at present, as Milan Skriniar (ankle), Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos (both Achilles) are taking up beds in the medical bay, as is out-of-favour left-back Layvin Kurzawa.
Further forward, the effervescent Bradley Barcola damaged his hamstring while turning out for the France Under-23s and is thought to be facing weeks in the treatment room, which already houses fellow thigh victim Marco Asensio.
Barcola's fresh issue opens the door for Goncalo Ramos to return to PSG's attacking trident with Randal Kolo Muani and Mbappe, already on 24 goals from as many matches in the current top-flight campaign.
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Mbemba, Balerdi, Merlin; Harit, Kondogbia, Ounahi, Veretout, Henrique; Aubameyang, Ndiaye
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pereira, Beraldo, Mendes; Lee, Ugarte, Vitinha; Kolo Muani, Ramos, Mbappe
We say: Marseille 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Suffering cruel blow after cruel blow when it comes to the availability of their defenders, Marseille's remarkable run at the Orange Velodrome appears destined to come to an end against the runaway leaders, even if the international break allowed Gasset and co the chance to reset and dissect.
A well-stocked midfield and attack can still ask questions of PSG's own ravaged backline, but Enrique's attackers will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing their injury-hit Classique foes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
