Paris Saint-Germain will be striving for their sixth successive win in all competitions when Marseille visit the Parc des Princes this weekend.
The French champions are on an even more impressive run against Sunday's opponents, winning 16 of the last 18 meetings and drawing the other two.
Match preview
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Thomas Tuchel's side are fresh off the back of a 5-0 thumping of Club Brugge in the Champions League, in which Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as a second-half substitute.
Mauro Icardi also bagged a brace for PSG over in Belgium, taking his tally to five goals in as many starts since his summer arrival from Inter Milan, and softening the blow of once again losing Neymar, to a hamstring strain over the international break.
The Brazilian has now missed as many matches as he has played since his arrival from Barcelona in 2017, and yet PSG's fortunes do not change too much in his absence. Neymar has only been responsible for one of the 13 goals they have scored in their last three matches.
Combine that potency with the second best-defensive record in the league after 10 matches, behind surprise package Reims, and it is easy to see how PSG have already opened up a five-point gap on the chasing pack in their search for a seventh Ligue 1 title in nine years.
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The Parisians have been particularly consistent defensively on their own patch, keeping five clean sheets from a possible six despite a constantly changing backline due to Tuchel's rotation. Only Nice with 29 have used more than PSG's 28 different players in Ligue 1 this season.
Fourth-placed Marseille are eight points adrift but may be frustrated not to be within striking distance ahead of their trip to the French capital because of missed opportunities such as draws at home to Montpellier and Rennes, as well as away at second-from-bottom Dijon.
Their decision to drag Andre Villas-Boas back from management wilderness has yet to be fully justified, although the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss has overseen an unbeaten start to the season on the road with two wins and two draws from four away trips.
However, the Portuguese had not even made it to the Premier League when Marseille recorded their last win at the Parc des Prince - a 3-0 victory back in 2010.
PSG form: WWWWWW
Marseille form: DDDLW
Team News
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Neymar is still ruled out for the hosts so Mbappe and Icardi are expected to continue in the front two that was so devastating in the final half-hour against Brugge. Edinson Cavani is of course an option for Tuchel, but Pablo Sarabia has been a regular after joining from Sevilla and would bring the forward line more balance.
Juan Bernat has served his suspension and should replace Layvin Kurzawa at left-back, while Colin Dagba is an option on the other defensive flank if Thomas Meunier is due a rest. There are no certainties in the centre of Tuchel's defence, but Abdou Diallo is fresh after a midweek off so may get the nod to partner captain Thiago Silva.
Former Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye returns to contention for PSG but may not be risked, with Leandro Paredes and Ander Herrera well equipped for the holding role.
The visitors are handed the double boost of Dimitri Payet and Morgan Sansom returning from bans to add experience and quality in midfield. Jordan Amavi has been out of favour recently but may be recalled on the left of a back five should Villas-Boas return to the formation which saw Marseille string three wins together earlier this campaign.
PSG possible starting lineup: Navas; Meunier, Diallo, Silva, Bernat; Verratti, Paredes, Di Maria; Sarabia, Mbappe, Icardi
Marseille possible starting lineup: Mandanda; Sakai, Sarr, Caleta-Car, Kamara, Amavi; Strootman, Sansom, Lopez; Payet, Benedetto
We say: PSG 3-1 Marseille
Marseille have a dreadful recent record at PSG - losing on 11 of their last 12 visits - and the French champions seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time to hand out another defeat on their favourite whipping boys.
Villas-Boas's team do possess the attacking threat to make it an uncomfortable evening for the Parisians but the extra firepower of Mbappe and Icardi will see PSG over the line. Angel Di Maria is also playing as well as he has in years and Marseille will struggle to cope with him.
Joe Fish
