Preview: PSG hoping to go on top with a win over Marseille
A victory in Le Classique could take both the teams to the top of table, should league leaders AS Monaco drop points over the weekend. Paris Saint Germain would be hoping to continue their impressive form which saw them defeating Portuguese outfit Benfica 3-0in what was arguably their best display of football this season.
The French champions are currently undefeated this season in all competitions, having so far won the French Super Cup, both their Champions League matches and notching up 18 points from the eight league games they have played so far.
PSG’s Uruguayan forward Edison Cavani who joined the Parisien side after they paid a French record transfer fee for his services believes their comprehensive victory over Benfica on Wednesday will give them further confidence to do well in the league.
"So far things are going well and we still have this fighting spirit," he said.
"This result gives us great confidence for the future, especially for the trip to Marseille, who are a very good team."
The 26 year old is his team’s top scorer having scored four times in league encounters so far. Even though many feel El Matador and Paris Saint Germain’s talismanic Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be able to co-exist in the same line-up, the duo have linked up quite well so far. Zlatan will continue to wear the captain’s arm band for his side with club captain Thiago Silva still nursing the thigh injury he suffered against AS Monaco a fortnight ago and his manager is confident that the big Swede’s personality will help the team.
"I think for a coach, to have a player with a strong character is good when this player is one of the best players in the world," he explained.
"When you have very good players with a strong ego, you have to deal with it because they are valuable on the pitch. Having this kind of players in a team is a good thing."
PSG will be against a Marseille side which has not had much luck in Europe so far. Being put in a difficult group which has been termed by many as the group of death, Les Phocéens, were beaten by Arsenal in their first match and were then at the receiving end of a 3-0 mauling at the hands of Borussia Dortmund at the Signal-Iduna-Park.
Despite their dismal run in Europe, Marseille have done quite well in league competitions and will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing performance in midweek.
Elie Baup’s side gave PSG a run for their money last season when they took the Ligue 1 down to the wire. PSG managed to win the league crown but it was not all easy and Baup will be hoping for his men to make life miserable for Les Parisiens once again this season.
However Marseille have failed to score a victory over their counterparts in the last five meetings and to make matters worse, the French giants will have to do without the services of their leading goal scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac who will miss the tie with a toe injury.
Paris Saint Germain on the other hand have no fresh injury concerns but will miss their influential captain Thiago Silva. However Javier Pastore will be in contention for a place in the starting eleven after recovering from a foot injury which has kept him out since the international week.
Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels, Live scores
Watch Marseille vs Paris Saint Germain live on Sunday, October 6, 2013:
In UK at 20:00 BST on BT Sport 2
In USA at 15:00 ET on beIN Sport Play, beIN Sport USA, Univision Deportes
Fans in other parts of the world can watch the match live on their local channels. Those in Middle East can watch the match live on Al Jazeera Sport +3.
For complete details of match listings and live scores, visit the Marseille vs Paris Saint Germain match page.
