Match Preview: Le Classique is back!
*due to weather conditions in Marseille, this match will be played on Monday September 22 at 20:00 CET
It's time once again for Le Classique -- arguably the biggest Ligue 1 McDonald's match of the season. Pitting Olympique de Marseille against Paris Saint-Germain, it's an encounter between France's two biggest clubs, and it's always an occasion! From lineups to quotes and more, get the latest in our match preview.
Marseille look to bounce back
After strengthening considerably in the summer -- including breaking their record fee for a player for Igor Paixão -- the early going has been uneven for l'OM. Frustrating losses in the league to Stade Rennais and Olympique Lyonnais mean that the hosts enter the match six points behind the capital side, who comfortably lead the top flight. That frustration continued to be a theme in the week as despite their opponents finishing with ten men, Roberto de Zerbi's side lost to Real Madrid, 2-1.
In comparison to their opponents, though, l'OM will have the advantage of both fewer injuries (only Geoffrey Kondogbia and Hamed Traoré are expected to be unavailable) and a longer period of rest, having only played on Tuesday. Tactically, de Zerbi is expected to change from the three-man defence he played at the Bernabeu to a 4-2-3-1. This will allow the hosts to deploy an experienced back four, with Emerson or Facundo Medina at left back, Nayef Aguerd and captain Leonardo Balerdi played centrally and Benjamin Pavard on the right.
Speaking of the team's tactics, de Zerbi underscored that no matter the system, the team's approach was more important. "We normally play with four at the back, but with the ball we play with two or three centre-backs to get the ball out. It doesn't change much for me. It depends on the phases of the match. We can play with several variations."
France holds its breath.
Le Classique
Marseille vs PSG, this Sunday ⚡ pic.twitter.com/SQYcN0g29V— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 18, 2025
Can a shorthanded PSG keep their level?
As for the visitors, Paris Saint-Germain's own Champions League campaign got off to a flying start as they started their defence of the title with a flying 4-0 win over Atalanta, with a surprise return for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian, who had been struggling with a calf issue, was in the eleven and on the scoresheet at the Parc on Wednesday, and should be back in the eleven tomorrow.
However, it's not all smooth sailing for Luis Enrique's side, who in addition to long-term absentees Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué will be without midfielder João Neves (hamstring), while Bradley Barcola is also a doubt, not having trained with the club today. Speaking pre-match, Enrique averred that despite his side having won six of six matches to start the season, they would still be wary given the magnitude of the occasion, saying, "In a single match, different circumstances can be important. We're calm and relaxed, here to play our game and try to be better than them. It's difficult to say where each team stands when it's only the fifth league match of the season."
Predicted lineups:
Olympique de Marseille (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Pavard; Aguerd, Balerdi, Emerson (or Medina); Højberg, Gomes; Greenwood, O'Riley (or Gouiri), Weah (or Paixão); Aubameyang (or Gouiri)
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Lee (or Barcola).
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