Why Le Classique is a Must-Watch Match
Marseille and PSG are at the top of their games ahead of Sunday's unmissable Classique clash
On Sunday, Marseille and PSG will meet in Le Velodrome in one of world soccer's standout clashes. And everything points to the latest edition of this rivalry rumble being one for the ages.
1) A true contest
In recent years, Le Classique has been a rivalry on paper but not on the pitch. PSG have bossed Marseille, plain and simple. In the last six Ligue 1 clashes between the pair, PSG have won five, the other being a draw. What's more, those games weren't remotely close with Marseille scoring just the single goal in that sorry streak. Oh, Marseille have also conceded seven goals in the past two Classique encounters, just to put the boot in a little more.
Long-suffering fans at the Velodrome badly need a win over PSG on Sunday, lest they fall back to the usual way of expressing anger, which is setting fire to things. Like Marseille's training facility in January 2021. This weekend might be the team's best chance of winning a Classique in years. Under the new coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, Marseille have won five out of seven games in all competitions, and moved through to the Europa League quarterfinals. PSG are in pretty good shape as well, with a 21-match unbeaten streak in Ligue 1.
The fire is back with Olympique de Marseille. But this time, it's burning in the right place.
2) The story of the season
It can't have been a good feeling for Jean-Louis Gasset when he was fired in the middle of the AFCON 2023 tournament. The veteran French coach was sacked by Ivory Coast after the hosts scraped through to the knockout stages on goal difference. To add insult to injury, Gasset then went on to watch the revitalized Elephants go on and win the tournament with a complete novice on the bench.
However, Marseille's fourth coach of the season – and a temporary one, in theory – has turned around his fortunes in mere weeks by rapidly transforming his latest club. Marseille were collapsing towards the relegation zone under Gennaro Gattuso, but Gasset has immediately put the spring in the step of his new players, especially Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored eight goals since the arrival of Marseille's fourth manager of the season.
You definitely can't keep a good man down for long.
3) Unstoppable Mbappé
Mbappe's most recent match for PSG saw the footballer nearly unstoppable, scoring three goals in a romp against Montpellier. That raised the French forward's total goals to 38 in all competitions for the Parisian club.
Catch Le Classique – Marseille vs. PSG - Live on beIN SPORTS on Sunday from 2:35PM ET / 11:35AM PT
