Olympique de Marseille – Paris Saint-Germain: Ten-man PSG punish injury-ridden Marseille (0-2)

Olympique de Marseille hosted Paris Saint-Germain in the biggest fixture in French football that has become far more about pride over the title race. Marseille were searching for their first win at home against their eternal rivals in thirteen years, while the league leaders were looking to consolidate their grip at the top of the table. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

Olympique de Marseille lurched from crisis to crisis this season, and while a slight reprieve has begun in recent weeks with the appointment of their fourth manager of the campaign, Jean-Louis Gasset, there is a sense that Le Classique could not have come at a worse time. Five wins in a row have given way to two losses and the sense that fatigue has begun to settle in. 

Moreover, an injury crisis has ravaged the squad and left the team with only two fully fit defenders, Quentin Merlin (signed from FC Nantes in January) and Chancel Mbemba. In midfield and upfront, the situation is less drastic but still around eleven players were all either ruled out of the game or had significant concerns. 

At Paris Saint-Germain the question as always has been about Kylian Mbappé. Luis Enrique has been using his star far less frequently since the reported announcement that he would be leaving the club at the end of his contract this June. It is a psychodrama that gets to the heart of the anxieties and fears of the club, that they will never be this all-encompassing super club . . .