Marseille vs. PSG: Examining How L'OM Can Halt Zlatan Ibrahimovic
On Sunday in Ligue 1, Olympique de Marseille host bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique at Stade Velodrome. Always the most keenly anticipated double-header on the French domestic footballing calendar, the second of this season’s instalments will be no different.
However, there is more than just pride at stake in this one. For the first time in years, a clash between OM and PSG could actually go some way toward deciding the outcome of the title race in Le Championnat.
The defending French champions head south with a one-point lead at the top of Ligue 1, although Olympique Lyonnais could be top of the pile come Sunday night with a trip to take on EA Guingamp on Saturday.
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Marcelo Bielsa’s men are two points behind PSG, though, so only a win will do for Marseille if they are to stand any realistic chance of usurping both their loathed capital city rivals and Lyon as they search for their 10th French crown.
Le Classique could also witness history being made this Sunday.
PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic is currently tied as joint-top scorer in this illustrious fixture with Les Parisiens’ legendary marksman Pauleta with six goals, and scoring once will put the Swede indisputably top of the list.
The Portuguese needed 11 games to reach his six-goal total, but Ibrahimovic has taken six appearances to get there.
If he finds the back of the net at Stade Velodrome this Sunday—past joint-all-time Le Classique appearance holder Steve Mandanda—he will have bettered Pauleta’s total with four games to spare.
Ibrahimovic has achieved plenty in his relatively short time in Paris, but this would be one of his most significant achievements if he were to pull it off. He is certainly coming into form at the right time to do it as well.
The 33-year-old has scored eight goals and provided two assists in his last six appearances in Ligue 1 and although five of those eight goals have been penalties, the talismanic striker’s performances have gradually been improving in quality.
A pair of spot-kicks did not do justice to his actual display against FC Lorient last time out, and if his team-mates would have been able to finish some of the chances that Ibrahimovic fashioned for them—notably Ezequiel Lavezzi—then he would boast more than just the two assists from his last six outings.
However, despite his goal threat mainly coming from the penalty spot at present, Marseille will need to silence Ibrahimovic if they are to win this match.
Nicolas N’Koulou’s potential return is good news. The Cameroon international’s last domestic appearance came in early January, when Marseille were dumped out of the Coupe de France in the round of 64 by fourth-tier outfit Grenoble Foot 38.
N’Koulou featured in all three of the Indomitable Lions’ Africa Cup of Nations Group D games back in January, before undergoing knee surgery last month. While his return would be a big boost ahead of the final games of the season, he will also be majorly off the pace.
The 25-year-old will have to make do with a place on the bench, after Bielsa named his starting XI on Friday.
With his best central defender likely limited to a squad role at best, Bielsa has had to find another way to shackle Ibrahimovic.
However, the defence is already likely to be overworked because of the loss of midfielder Giannelli Imbula through suspension. The French under-21 international is normally so good at relieving the pressure on the OM back line, but he can also help out in attack.
Imbula’s absence will likely hurt Marseille’s chances of stopping Ibrahimovic from adding his name to Le Classique’s record books more than N’Koulou’s will.
Mario Lemina will replace the 22-year-old in the middle, but he has not featured from the start of a match since early March. The OM No. 8 only appeared against RC Lens last time out as a second-half substitute and is not back to full fitness yet.
With that in mind, Bielsa has gone with a back four of Brice Dja Djedje, Rod Fanni, Jeremy Morel—who has made the transition from left-back to central defender under the charismatic Argentinian coach this season—and Benjamin Mendy.
Alaixys Romao, sometimes used as a defender, will play alongside Lemina in midfield to limit the PSG attack.
While solid, that Marseille back line is far from impregnable, and they will need to pay close attention to PSG’s supporting cast for Ibrahimovic, especially if Lucas Moura is fit enough to play from the start. The Brazilian’s searing pace could open up the likes of Mendy and Morel, while Fanni—not a natural central defender—could struggle alone against the physicality and aerial prowess of Ibrahimovic.
If the OM defence do manage to shackle the Swede, they still have the presence of Edinson Cavani and possibly Lavezzi’s speed to worry about. Javier Pastore could also feature in central midfield, giving PSG a significant creative boost going forward.
Considering Ibrahimovic’s mercurial form so far this season, it is difficult to predict what sort of performance he will put in at Stade Velodrome. His good record against Les Parisiens’ loathed rivals means he will probably be up for this game, but the danger is that Marseille put too much emphasis on the PSG No. 10.
Shutting down those around Ibrahimovic, notably creative elements such as Lucas and Pastore, will be necessary to halt him.
But if the towering striker can provide a moment of magic of the variety that we have only seen fleetingly this season, there might be no way for Marseille to stop Zlatan from becoming the top scorer in Le Classique’s storied history this weekend.
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