Marseille vs. PSG: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info
The latest team to stand in the way of Paris Saint-Germain’s record 33-game Ligue 1 unbeaten streak is the capital club’s bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille at Stade Velodrome on Sunday.
A win for PSG against Les Phoceens would take them to 34 without defeat, and from there on in until the end of the season, it looks possible that Laurent Blanc’s men could go without losing.
Sunday’s clash in southern France could be the last chance for a Ligue 1 side to end Les Parisiens’ impressive run.
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Date: Sunday, February 7
Time: 9 p.m. CET (8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. EST)
Venue: Stade Velodrome, Marseille
TV Info: Canal+ (France), BT Sport Europe (UK) and beIN Sports (USA)
Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect
Preamble
The clash at Stade Velodrome on Sunday pits two of Ligue 1’s in-form teams against each other. PSG are defending their newly achieved run of 33 matches without defeat, while Marseille are unbeaten in 11 games.
OM are looking for a first win over their fierce rivals since November 2011, and with the men from the capital entering a delicate point of the season ahead of the UEFA Champions League re-start, there might be no better time to catch them.
Michel’s side showed earlier in the season that they can compete with PSG at Parc des Princes, but a Kevin Trapp penalty save ensured that it finished 2-1 to the hosts that night.
Last season’s 3-2 win for PSG—coincidentally preceded by a 3-1 home win over FC Lorient like this match—was the starting point in a strong run of late-term form that propelled them to an unprecedented domestic clean sweep.
Although there is still a fair distance left to go this campaign, Sunday’s encounter has the potential to set Les Parisiens on their way towards another glittering end to the season.
Otherwise, it could be the spark that Marseille need to improve their home form and ultimately secure European qualification for next season.
Form Lines (all competitions)
Marseille
W 1-3 vs. SM Caen (Ligue 1)
W 2-0 vs. Montpellier HSC (Coupe de France)
D 1-1 vs. Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1)
D 1-1 vs. Lille OSC (Ligue 1)
W 0-1 vs. Montpellier HSC (Ligue 1)
PSG
W 2-1 vs. Toulouse (Coupe de France)
W 5-1 vs. Angers SCO (Ligue 1)
W 2-0 vs. Toulouse (Coupe de la Ligue)
W 0-2 vs. AS Saint-Etienne (Ligue 1)
W 3-1 vs. Lorient (Ligue 1)
Predicted Formations
"Marseille-Paris : les compos probables (L'Équipe) #OMPSG #PSG pic.twitter.com/a23fHF1Cpq
— Paris No Limit™ (@ParisNoLimit) February 7, 2016"
Marseille (4-2-3-1): Mandanda (c); Dja Djedje, Nkoulou, Rolando, Manquillo; Isla, Diarra; Sarr, Cabella, N'Koudou; Batshuayi.
PSG (4-3-3): Trapp; Aurier, Luiz, Silva (c), Maxwell; Motta, Rabiot, Matuidi; Lucas, Ibrahimovic, Di Maria.
Player to Watch
After scoring his first goal of 2016 in his first Ligue 1 start of the calendar year against Lorient on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Edinson Cavani to see whether he has done enough to get back into PSG’s starting XI or whether he finds himself of the substitutes’ bench once again.
The Uruguay international could well find himself watching on with the other substitutes to begin with, but his strong performance at Parc des Princes in midweek has reminded Blanc of what he can offer.
Le President will probably opt for his preferred front three of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria and Lucas Moura, but Cavani might be thrown on in the second half if the visitors are looking for a goal.
When El Matador takes to the pitch, he needs to be as effective as he was against Les Merlus and take any chance that comes his way.
If the South American can do that, then Blanc will have more of a choice to make than he has had in recent weeks because of Cavani’s previously disappointing form.
Key Battle
As has so often been the case since the Sweden international arrived in Paris back in 2012, Marseille’s biggest task on Sunday will be shutting Ibrahimovic down and making sure that he does not add to his eight goals in nine games against PSG’s fiercest rivals.
The 34-year-old has been in fine form this season, with 20 goals and seven assists from 19 Ligue 1 appearances, and with the big stage awaiting him on Sunday night, OM’s defence will need to be at their absolute best to shackle him.
Marseille: +387
PSG: -139
Draw: +264
