One of the biggest fixtures anywhere in the world takes place in Ligue 1 this Sunday night, as Marseille welcome Paris Saint-Germain to the Stade Velodrome in the south of France. This has always been a big fixture in the French football calendar and this season it takes on added significance as both teams aim to get themselves to the top of French football.
PSG have enjoyed great dominance in recent years but were upstaged by Monaco last season in the title race. Huge investment means they are once again the favourites to take the title but Marseille could keep things interesting with a win.
Marseille Form
Marseille are certainly capable of taking something from this match if their form is anything to go by. They have lost just 1 of their last 7 games in all competitions and that came away from home to Salzburg in the Europa League.
Marseille started the Ligue 1 season promisingly but were then taken apart 6-1 at Monaco in their 4th match of the campaign. The aftershock from that defeat rippled through to their next match and Marseille went down 3-1 at home to Rennes.
However, they got themselves together and won their next 3 games, including a good 4-2 victory in Nice. Last weekend they were involved in a very entertaining 3-3 draw at Strasbourg, scoring a late equaliser to take a point.
Marseille have lost only 3 of their last 23 home Ligue 1 games.
PSG Form
PSG continued their dominant form in the Champions League in mid-week by defeating Anderlecht 4-0 away from home. They should have no problem qualifying from their group in that competition.
Having played 12 games in all competitions this season, PSG are yet to taste defeat and have spent big during the summer to bring in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, with the investment seemingly paying off for Unai Emery’s team.
PSG have recorded some big wins in Ligue 1, including 3-0 at Guingamp, 6-2 over Toulouse, 5-1 at Metz and 6-2 at home to Bordeaux. If they hit their stride, PSG are very difficult to stop.
However, they have not found life easy away from home in their last 2 fixtures, drawing 0-0 in Montpellier and needing a stoppage time winner in Dijon. Having said that, PSG have lost only 1 of their last 29 league games, which is a tremendous record.
Team News
Rudi Garcia has a fully fit squad of players to choose from for this match and is set to play a 4-3-3 formation, with Clinton N’Jie, Florian Thauvin and Dimitri Payet playing in attack.
PSG have a doubt over Thiago Silva plus Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta are struggling for fitness. Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are all expected to start the match.
Top Betting Tips
Given Marseille’s poor defensive record this season and the attacking options at PSG’s disposal, the away team should fancy their chances of a few goals in this game. PSG to score over 2.5 goals is 10/11 with Ladbrokes.
However, buoyed on by their decent start to the season and a passionate home crowd, Marseille will attack and should get a goal themselves, even if it is in defeat. PSG to win and both teams to score is 29/20 with William Hill.
Neymar has made a great start to his career at PSG, scoring 6 goals in 7 league games. The Brazilian is 4/5 with Ladbrokes to score at any time.