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Olympique Marseille Defender Gabriel Heinze Ready For ‘Game Of The Year’ Against PSG

The big Ligue 1 clash between les Phoceens and les Parisiens is only days away, and the Argentine veteran is relishing the prospect of the Stade Velodrome meeting...

Nov 16, 2009 4:01:39 PM

Gabriel Heinze addresses the media during his official Olympique Marseille presentation

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Gabriel Heinze addresses the media during his official Olympique Marseille presentation

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Gabriel Iván Heinze

The focus of attention in France may largely be the national team’s World Cup play-off match against Ireland on Wednesday, but that will quickly switch to Olympique de Marseille’s home fixture against Paris Saint-Germain, according to Gabriel Heinze, who considers Friday’s fixture as the club’s most vital encounter of the year.

Initially scheduled for October, a swine flu outbreak in the PSG ranks saw the game controversially postponed just hours before kick-off. A war of words ensued between the two outfits, who are ready to renew hostilities at the end of the week.

“To me, the team and the supporters, this is the most important game of the year,” he told France Football. “It is played from one week before [kick-off] - if you walk down the street people are not talking about the previous matches but this one. This is the derby, it's good for football.”

A former PSG player, Heinze knows exactly what this encounter means to the fans. However, this is the first time the defender will feature for OM in such a clash.

The 31-year-old, who has been playing at left-back in recent fixtures, has played nine of les Phoceens’ 11 league fixtures this season.

Friday night’s match will have a great deal to live up to after Didier Deschamps’ men recorded a spectacular 5-5 draw with Olympique Lyonnais in their previous fixture.

Lying six points behind league leaders Girondins de Bordeaux, albeit with a game in hand, the pressure is on Marseille to quickly close the gap after a summer of significant investment.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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