DECRYPTION – Everything you need to know before the 108th duel between OM and PSG this Sunday in Marseille.
Classic Day. OM host PSG this Sunday, at the Vélodrome, in the last match of the ninth day of Ligue 1. Kick-off at 8:45 p.m. A match broadcast by DAZN and to follow live with commentary on our site.
Why is this Classic so anticipated?
Already because the two clubs are sailing at the top of the Ligue 1 ranking. Before the day, Paris appeared at the top of the championship, tied on points with AS Monaco and three lengths ahead of Marseille, third. Marseille players can therefore come back on par with their rivals in the event of victory. Beyond the accounting aspect, this 108th Classic appears more open than ever. Against all expectations, OM, despite the absence of a European Cup and de facto reduced resources, made some very good picks during the transfer window (Rabiot, Hojberg, Greenwood, etc.) and found a way to hire a listed coach, Roberto De Zerbi. OM making progress, PSG, a little less. The Rouge et Bleu have chosen to focus on the collective and youth to compensate for the departure of Kylian Mbappé. So far, that’s enough for L1. Less regarding the C1. Clearly, if there is a year where Paris Saint-Germain is suitable for OM, it is this one. Opportunity to seize.
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Since when did OM last beat PSG?
It hasn’t been that long: Marseille brought down Paris on February 8, 2023 (2-1), at home, in the Coupe de France. Marseille’s last victory in L1 dates back to September 13, 2020 (0-1), at the Parc des Princes. These are the only two successes for OM in the last 30 duels between the two teams! 24 Parisian victories, four draws and therefore two defeats during this series, which began in 2011. An ultra domination which allowed Paris Saint-Germain to take the lead in the history of confrontations: 51 victories, 21 draws and 35 defeats . OM’s last victory in the league and at the Vélodrome? November 27, 2011 (3-0), just after the takeover of PSG.
How many Parisian supporters at the Vélodrome?
Obviously, none. As far as the Parisians are concerned, the last trip to the Vélodrome dates back to 2015. A time when the Ultras had not yet made their return to the Parc des Princes after the Leproux plan. In the other direction, Marseille fans were authorized to go to the Parc in 2018, for a Coupe de France match. A trip which resulted in several dozen seats being torn off and the toilets being ransacked. It is therefore no surprise that a ministerial decree dated October 15 banned Parisian supporters from traveling to Marseille.
«PSG travel is frequently a source of disturbances to public order resulting from the violent behavior of certain supporters.”, we first explain. And to add: “During meetings organized in Marseille, certain OM supporters have regularly adopted violent behavior for many years.“. No jealousy. The decree does not fail to emphasize “animosity», the «strong antagonism» and a “particular rivalry» between the two camps, ensuring that a “real and serious risk of clash between supporters of the two clubs exists“. Under these conditions, “only a ban on individual and collective travel by people claiming to be supporters of PSG or behaving as such, is likely to avoid all serious risks for the safety of people and property on occasion.» of this match, assures Mr. Retailleau.
Before Rabiot, how many players passed through both PSG and OM?
Trained in Paris and recruited by OM this summer, after five years at Juventus, Adrien Rabiot became the 52nd player to wear the colors of the two best enemies in French football. Obviously, the rivalry didn’t always exist. At the time when Jean Djorkaeff – the father of the 98 world champion Youri Djorkaeff – and Jean-Pierre Destrumelle left OM for PSG, in 1970, a few weeks after the creation of the capital club, it was not a subject. Jean Djorkaeff and Jean-Pierre Destrumelle, the two pioneers. Before Rabiot, Lassana Diarra was the last player to join PSG after playing for OM or vice versa. The former France team midfielder joined Paris in February 2018 after wearing the Marseille jersey from 2015 to 2017, with a stint at Al-Jazira in between. Only two players in this case since 2010, Diarra and Hatem Ben Arfa. Since 1989, 36 have worn both jerseys, including Gaby Heinze, Fabrice Fiorèse, Frédéric Dehu, Claude Makélélé, Bruno N’Gotty and even George Weah.
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Who is the real star of this Classic?
As we have said, PSG has turned the page on superstars. Exit Neymar, Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé. Ousmane Dembélé is not just anyone, however. The top scorer in L1? Bradley Barcola, author of seven goals, one more than Marseillais Mason Greenwood. Marquinhos is the most capped player in these confrontations in both camps, he who has been at PSG since 2013. This will be his 22nd Classic, for a record of 17 wins, three draws and one defeat. Tuesday during the draw against PSV (1-1), the best Parisian was named Achraf Hakimi. Again? The star of this expected poster is not, however, in the Parisian ranks. It is of course Rabiot, who has already played 12 Classics with the Parisian tunic, for nine victories, two draws and one defeat. No goal but an assist for Neymar, in 2017, at the Vélodrome, when Paris snatched a draw at the last second and 10 against 11 on a free kick from Edinson Cavani (2-2). All eyes will be on the ex-titi and neo Marseillais, who still played 227 matches and scored 24 goals for the capital club. The Rabiot Classic.
