MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 17:58:25| >> :60:830:830:
[monks data]
Attendance: 47,647
PSG logo
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 29
Mar 17, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Marseille

3-1

Mbappe (45'), di Maria (55', 66')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Germain (46')

Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Marseille - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides the team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Paris Saint-Germain's home Ligue 1 fixture against Marseille.

Paris Saint-Germain will look to continue their surge towards the Ligue 1 title when they welcome fourth-placed Marseille to the French capital on Sunday night.

Thomas Tuchel's side currently boast an incredible 17-point lead over second-placed Lille in France's top flight, still with a game in hand, having won 24 of their 27 league matches this term.


Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate Juan Bernat's goal against Manchester United on March 6, 2019© Reuters

PSG have been far too good for the rest of Ligue 1 this term. Indeed, 24 wins and just one defeat from their 27 matches has left them top of the table, some 17 points ahead of second-placed Lille with a game in hand.

Not only are Tuchel's team comfortably the highest scorers with 83 goals, they also boast the best defensive record, having shipped just 15 in their 27 games, which is another indication of their incredible dominance.

Domestically, it is shaping up to be another strong campaign as they prepare to face Nantes in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France early next month, but the French giants have once again failed on the European stage.

A 2-0 win away to Manchester United in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie placed PSG in a very strong position, but they incredibly suffered a 3-1 home defeat in the second leg to lose on away goals.

This was supposed to be the season where PSG really made their mark in Europe, but that will have to wait for another year. There is no getting away from the fact that it was a major, major disappointment; the show must go on, though, and their supporters will be expecting a strong end to the campaign.

PSG bounced back from the defeat against United by thumping Dijon 4-0 on March 12 and will be looking for a positive result against Marseille ahead of the international break, which kicks in after this weekend's fixtures.

Tuchel's team will then return to action with a trip to Toulouse in Ligue 1, before taking on Nantes in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France next month. There will be no Coupe de la Ligue this term, though, as they were dumped out of the competition by Guingamp at the start of 2019.

It is shaping up to be a very, very interesting summer transfer window for PSG, particularly with Juventus strongly linked with a big-money move for Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman, however, has played down suggestions that he could leave his current club at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWLW


Marseille

Mario Balotelli makes his Marseille debut on January 25, 2019© Reuters

Mario Balotelli scored the only goal of the match against his former club Nice last weekend as Marseille continued their excellent run of form to strengthen their grip on fourth position in the table.

Balotelli has turned out to be an inspired signing for Marseille, finding the back of the net on five occasions in seven appearances for Rudi Garcia's team, who have now been victorious in five of their last six Ligue 1 matches.

Fourteen wins, five draws and nine defeats - that is how Marseille have performed this season, with a total of 47 points leaving them in fourth. Les Olympiens are just three points off third-placed Lyon and will be looking to become just the second team to beat PSG in France's top flight during the 2018-19 campaign.

It is a tough ask for Garcia's side, though, when considering that they have only been victorious in five of their 14 away league matches this season. PSG, meanwhile, have posted 14 wins from their 14 home league games this term.

Marseille have not actually beaten PSG in the league since November 2011, meanwhile, and suffered a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier this season. They have been excellent in recent weeks, but PSG are, by some considerable distance, the best team in the division.

Marseille's defensive record is also poor when considering their position in the table. Indeed, they have conceded 35 times in their 28 league matches, which is the worst record in the top 10.

A disastrous Europa League group campaign saw Garcia's side pick up just one point from their six matches, but Balotelli appears to have changed the whole feeling around the club and a win over PSG on Sunday night would leave Lyon sweating in third position.

Recent form: WWWDWW


Team News

Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani goes down injury during a Ligue 1 clash with Bordeaux on February 9, 2019© Reuters

It had been thought that Edinson Cavani would start for PSG against Dijon last time out, but the Uruguay international did not even make the bench and is again a huge doubt for this game with a troublesome hip injury.

Neymar is also still on the sidelines with a foot problem, meaning that Mbappe should again be joined in the final third by Angel di Maria as Julian Draxler is still suffering from a hamstring injury.

Tuchel went with a 3-5-2 formation against Dijon, which might be the case again this weekend, with Marco Verratti and Marquinhos holding the middle of the park.

As for Marseille, Balotelli will again start at the tip of the attack. There should also be spots in the XI for Florian Thauvin and Valere Germain, with Lucas Ocampos also keeping his position in a wide area.

Dimitri Payet and Kevin Strootman both started on the bench against Nice last weekend, which could again be the case in this match as Garcia prepares to stick by the team that featured last time out.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Areola; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe; Meunier, Verratti, Marquinhos, Alves, Bernat; Di Maria, Mbappe

Marseille possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Sakai, Caleta-Car, Kamara, Sarr; Ocampos, Sanson, Lopez, Thauvin; Balotelli, Germain


Head To Head

As mentioned, PSG won the reverse match 2-0 earlier this season, while they recorded a 3-0 victory when the pair locked horns in the French capital during the 2017-18 campaign.

Marseille have not actually beaten PSG in Ligue 1 since November 2011, while Les Olympiens have not won on their travels against the capital giants since February 2010.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Marseille

We are expecting a close game on Sunday night as Marseille have been excellent in recent weeks. However, it is difficult to look past PSG due to their stunning league form throughout the campaign.



ID:353557: cacheID:353557:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11788:
Written by
Matt Law
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe scores against Manchester United on February 12, 2019
Read Next:
Combined XI: PSG vs. Man United
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG14104037112634
2Marseille1492331171429
3MonacoMonaco1492324121229
4Lille1475224141026
5Lyon147432617925
6Nice146532617923
7Lens146531712523
8Auxerre146262121020
9Reims145452018219
10Toulouse145361516-118
11Brest145182026-616
12Rennes144281820-214
13NantesNantes143561620-414
14StrasbourgStrasbourg143562227-514
15Angers143471424-1013
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne144191132-2113
17Le HavreLe Havre1440101126-1512
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier1422101336-238


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!