When Paris Saint-Germain was founded in 1970, Olympique de Marseille already had more than seven decades of history. The emergence of a club from the capital with ambitions of competing among the biggest teams in French soccer eventually gave rise to a matchup that became significantly more intense over the years.
PSG vs Marseille: The History Behind Le Classique
PSG and Olympique de Marseille face off in Le Classique, the most famous rivalry in French soccer. Paris against Marseille, two cities with very different identities and a sporting history that grew increasingly intense over the years.
The first official match between the two sides took place on December 12, 1971, at the Stade Vélodrome. Marseille earned a 4-2 victory, with Josip Skoblar scoring twice.
Don’t miss Le Classique this Sunday: Marseille vs PSG at 2:35 PM ET on beIN SPORTS
A Rivalry That Grew in the 1990s
During the early years, meetings between PSG and Marseille were still far from reaching the level of tension that now defines Le Classique. That began to change in the late 1980s and became firmly established during the following decade.
Marseille, under president Bernard Tapie, became one of the major powers in French soccer. At the same time, PSG continued to grow and eventually became a rival capable of challenging for domestic supremacy.
The rivalry also reflected the contrast between the two cities. Paris, France's political and economic capital, faced Marseille, a port city with a strong popular and multicultural identity. Those differences eventually carried over into the stands and turned every match into much more than a battle for three points.
Marseille and PSG Also Made History in Europe
One of the most important chapters came in 1993, when Olympique de Marseille won the European Cup after defeating AC Milan in the final. For more than three decades, the Marseille club remained the only French team to have lifted Europe's most prestigious club trophy.
That changed in 2025, when PSG won the UEFA Champions League for the first time and added the European title that had been missing from their trophy cabinet.
In addition, since the arrival of the Parisian club's new project in 2011, PSG have established a period of dominance in French soccer and significantly increased the sporting and financial gap between themselves and their rival.
However, Le Classique has maintained its intensity. Every PSG vs. Marseille matchup once again brings together the leading clubs from France's two largest cities and keeps alive a rivalry that now spans more than five decades.
