Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille clash in Le Classique
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Paris Saint-Germain take a record of 18 games unbeaten into Sunday’s Le Classique against arch-rivals Marseille. Like high-profile European matches between Inter Milan and Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona, and Liverpool and Manchester United, these two clubs have a strong hate for one another.
Marseille have been second best to PSG over the last seven seasons. Their last win against PSG came all the way back in November 2011. The names and faces have changed greatly since that time; but one thing has remained the same. That one thing is PSG’s dominance over the southern French club.
Thomas Tuchel’s Paris St. Germain have lost just once this season in Ligue 1. That lost came in early February against Lyon. Since losing to Lyon, PSG have reeled off six straight wins outscoring opponents 16-3.
Marseille have put their inconsistent early season form behind them. Since early February, they have gone unbeaten in their last six matches. Five of those games ended in Marseille wins. January signing Mario Balotelli has found the back of the net four times for Marseille during their six-game unbeaten run and goes into Le Classique in form.
While Balotelli goes into the game on fire, so does PSG star Kylian Mbappe. The 20-year-old has 24 goals in 21 league games. He has scored in each of his last four games netting six goals. Even without Neymar, PSG have not missed a beat in Ligue One thanks to Mbappe’s brilliance.
PSG may have Ligue 1’s best attack scoring 83 goals. But they also have the league’s best defence. Their underrated rear guard has allowed a mere 15 goals on French soil in the league.
Marseille, who are 27 points off of first place heading into the weekend and sit fourth, have scored 44 times while conceding 35 goals. Manager Rudi Garcia’s team have allowed the eighth most goals this season in Ligue One. Defence has been an issue, and despite improvements since February, Marseille will struggle to keep PSG out of goal.
The two sides have met twice this season already. Their first meeting in the league finished 2-2 with PSG’s Edinson Cavani grabbing a 90th minute equaliser. PSG had far less trouble dispatching Marseille 3-0 in the French Cup quarterfinal.
Although Marseille will be up for Le Classique, they will fall to PSG for a 19th straight time. PSG will score goals against Marseille and tighten their stranglehold on the league. Viewers can expect a PSG win and over 2.5 goals scored.
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