Luis Enrique aims to provide a calming presence for his Paris Saint-Germain players as they prepare to face Marseille in a highly-anticipated Le Classique on Sunday. 

PSG could pull further clear at the Ligue 1 summit with a win at Orange Velodrome, buoyed by starting their Champions League title defence with a win in midweek. 

The Parisians opened their 2025-26 European campaign with a thumping 4-0 victory over Atalanta, a performance that further highlighted their impressive attacking options. 

Indeed, PSG have won 11 of their last 13 Champions League matches (L2), netting 2+ goals in 10 of those matches.

Since the start of December when that run began, no side has won more matches or scored more goals (39) in the competition, and they will be aiming to continue that here. 

Luis Enrique, however, could sense some nerves within his ranks despite their fine start to the campaign, and he was quick to try and eliminate those ahead of facing Marseille. 

"Normally, when a very important match comes around, everyone is nervous," Luis Enrique told reporters.

"For me, as a coach and with experience of this type of match, it's more important to stay calm than to get too excited.

"We were able to welcome our supporters today and their energy was fantastic. We understand the importance of these matches and the rivalry between the two clubs.

"Our mentality is that the team is greater than any individual player. That's what it means to be a real team.

"At this moment in time, and throughout last season, we've shown that personality as a team, that DNA, and I think that's something our supporters love."

Luis Enrique did, however, reveal he would assume his normal position in the dugout having watched PSG's victory over Atalanta from the stands during the first half. 

The Spaniard also opted to do so against Lens in order to try and get a better view of the game, but he joked that he would not be taking that risk against his team's rivals. 

"Away from home? No. I wouldn't dare. I don't dare because of my physical integrity, which is not the best right now," Luis Enrique said. "It’s better not to play with fire.

"This time I'll be with my players to feel the heat. We're talking about a French football classic — a match that everyone wants to play and coach in, with an intense atmosphere.

"From above, I get a lot of information that I can use at half-time. Having more information is important for me."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marseille – Mason Greenwood

Having finished as last year's joint-top scorer in Ligue 1 alongside Ousmane Dembele, Greenwood has started the 2025-26 campaign by finding the back of the net twice.

Indeed, Greenwood is the player with the highest expected goals (xG) in Ligue 1 this season (3.4), but has the biggest underperformance in that metric (-1.4). 

PSG – Bradley Barcola

With Desire Doue and Dembele both sidelined through injury, Barcola will look to play a pivotal role in the final third alongside midweek hero Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. 

Despite having his penalty saved by Marco Carnesecchi against Atalanta in the Champions League, Barcola ended that match with team-high totals for shots (three) and touches in the opposition box (seven), while only Kvaratskhelia (four) created more chances than the Frenchman (three). 

MATCH PREDICTION: PSG WIN

Marseille and PSG will face each other for the 110th time in all competitions, with the Ligue 1 champions only playing against Monaco (115) and Lyon (111) more times. The Parisiens have won 52 all-time meetings with their rivals, 22 more than this weekend's opponents. 

Luis Enrique's side are the only team with a perfect record heading into matchday five. PSG could start a Ligue 1 campaign with five wins in as many games for the fourth time over the last nine seasons (after 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2021-22). 

And their star-studded attack have often thrived away from the Parc des Princes. Indeed, PSG have scored in 23 of their last 24 top-flight away matches (70 goals in total), last failing to find the back of the net away from the French capital against Auxerre (0-0) in December 2024. 

Marseille, meanwhile, are winless in their last 12 home games against PSG in Ligue 1 (D3 L9), their longest drought against a single opponent. Indeed, that is more games without a win than in their first 33 games on home soil against their rivals (W22 D6 L5).

But De Zerbi's men have won their last six home matches in the top-flight. However, they have not had a longer such run since between August 2014 and January 2015 under Marcelo Bielsa's stewardship. 

And after beating Lorient last time out (4-0), Marseille could keep back-to-back clean sheets in Ligue 1 for the first time since December 2023 (two).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Marseille – 27.9%

Draw – 24.1%

PSG – 48%