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Ligue 1 Preview: Olympique Marseille – Paris Saint-Germain

OM and PSG will try again after their previous fixture was called off in controversial circumstances in October…

Nov 19, 2009 2:10:18 PM

Ligue 1 : Brandao (Olympique de Marseille)

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Ligue 1 : Brandao (Olympique de Marseille)

Teams

Kick-Off: Friday, November 20, 2009. 21:00 CET
Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Take Two

While 16 teams play Round 14 matches in Le Championnat this weekend, Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain step back in time to Round 10 this Friday evening.

Undoubtedly the biggest game in the domestic French footballing calendar, such fixtures are rarely strangers to some kind of controversy. The original fixture, penned for October 26, was certainly no different. Indeed, the postponed clash will probably be remembered as the most discussed and analysed non-match anywhere this season.

Just hours before kick-off was due, the LFP (French Football League), who had said the previous day that the game would go ahead, elected to call off the fixture because of a swine flu epidemic in les Parisiens’ camp. Despite the rules stating that eight players had to be ill with the virus before a game could be averted, the decision was taken to delay the fixture because of four confirmed cases.

Citing public health reasons as the motives for their mandate, the LFP inadvertently caused an uproar in the port city, where violence broke out in several places, resulting in a number of arrests.

In addition, angry words briefly flashed between the two camps, with Marseille eager to blame PSG for placing undue pressure on the authorities to cancel the game. In contrast, the capital club maintained that they were always happy for the fixture to go ahead.

Contrasting Fortunes

Marseille’s form since then has only improved. After a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Toulouse, memorable because their opponents were reduced to ten men after only eight minutes played, OM sent tongues wagging with a fine 6-1 success over FC Zurich in the Champions League – a result that has propelled them right back into the mix to progress.

Head coach Didier Deschamps will have a vital trip to Milan at the back of his mind approaching this match, but the Clasico will take precedence over even that encounter, which is a Wednesday evening game. Sitting a disappointing eighth in a congested table, no match can be taken for granted.

If les Phoceens have been largely impressive, the same cannot be said of PSG, who seemed to be coming out of a slump when they muscled their way past Sochaux 4-1 on November 1. Having failed to win any of their previous five league matches, Antoine Kombouare’s troops seemed to have turned the corner, but they immediately crashed to a 1-0 home loss to Nice, painful because they largely dominate proceedings, hitting the frame of the goal on several occasions.

FORM GUIDE

Marseille

DREW 5-5 (a) Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1, Matchday 13, November 8)

WON 6-1 (h) FC Zurich (Champions League, Matchday 4, November 4)

DREW 1-1 (h) Toulouse (Ligue 1, Matchday 12, October 31)

WON 1-0 (a) FC Zurich (Champions League, Matchday 3, October 21)

WON 3-0 (a) Nancy (Ligue 1, Matchday 9, October 17)

PSG

LOST 1-0 (h) Nice (Ligue 1, Matchday 13, November 7)

WON 4-1 (a) Sochaux (Ligue 1, Matchday 12, November 1)

LOST 1-0 (a) Toulouse (Ligue 1, Matchday 9, October 18)

DREW 1-1 (h) Nancy (Ligue 1, Matchday 8, October 3)

DREW 1-1 (a) Lorient (Ligue 1, Matchday 7, September 26)

TEAM NEWS

Marseille

OM will approach this fixture hopeful of having a full compliment of regular starters available. Bakari Kone has had some issues of late, but he should be fit to participate. Lucho Gonzalez should also feature in some capacity, but he may be saved for the Milan encounter.

Julien Rodriguez continues to miss out due to injury.

Hatem Ben Arfa has reportedly had a major falling out with the technical staff, so don’t be surprised to see him omitted.

Probable Starting XI: Mandanda; Bonnart, Hilton, Diawara, Taiwo; Abriel, Mbia, Abriel, Cheyrou; Niang, Brandao

PSG

Les Parisiens go into this game without suspended captain Claude Makelele, while Guillaume Hoarau will definitely not be back in time to feature before 2010.

On the flip side, Zoumana Camara is available once again, though the centre-back is not expected to break into the first XI.

Probable Starting XI: Coupet; Ceara, Traore, Sakho, Armand; Chantome, Clement; Giuly, Sessegnon, Luyindula; Erding

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marseille

Head coach Didier Deschamps has been lavish with his praise of late for bullish forward Brandao. Considered to be surplus to requirements in the summer, the Brazilian will not attempt to unlock the PSG with defence with cunning, more steamroller it with his power. Brandao has registered five times already this season.

PSG

OM are definitely a side that can be vulnerable, and in Mevlut Erding, les Parisiens have a forward capable of putting the ball in the net. However, they need to supply the Turkish forward with the ball, and it will likely be the impish Ludovic Giuly who will be primarily charged in undertaking just that responsibility. The former Roma man may no longer be the devastating threat he was earlier in his career, but he remains a hugely intelligent footballer.

PREDICTION

Such titanic affairs are never easy to predict, especially as pride and passion play such a great role in matches such as this. Marseille’s home form is far from spectacular, though their recent results suggest that their attack is nicely oiled. PSG, meanwhile, are without Makelele, which will heavily count against them. Indeed, this may prove decisive in a game that promises much.

Olympique de Marseille 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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