http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 Vs Paris Saint-Germain – French Ligue 1 preview
Stade Velodrome, Marseille will see Olympique de Marseille host Paris Saint-Germain in this season’s first Clasico on November 27, 2011.
Crunch Clasico
All eyes of the French footballing quarter will be on this fixture as the two traditional foes meet eachother for the first time this season.
Both sides have had their fair share of disappointments in recent weeks which makes the game even more exciting. Heading into the Week 15 of the 2011/2012 Championnat, Les Parisiens were on top of the Ligue 1 standings albeit on goal difference.
However, things have now changed after Montpellier defeated Sochaux on Saturday to pile up the pressure on PSG as they look to beat Olympique de Marseille.
As things stand, Montpellier lead the table with 33 points from 15 games while PSG are in second and have a game in hand. However, having played one less game than Montpellier does not make things easier for the cash-laden side as the game against Marseille
would certainly prove to be a test of the nerves of a team that is going through one of the most exciting periods in its history.
Sleeping giants
The term sleeping giants certainly befits Marseille who have made a woeful start to the new campaign. Lying in 10th place in the Ligue 1 standings was certainly not what Didier Deschamps had in mind and the former Juventus coach would be looking
to set things right with a victory over the archrivals which could possibly set the tone for the rest of the campaign for both sides.
After losing 1-0 at Montpellier last week and then losing to Olympiacos FC in a midweek Champions League encounter, Deschamps’ men are under a lot of pressure to deliver against a PSG side that is brimming with confidence and has set a target of lifting
the Championelle this time.
PSG woes
PSG on the other hand have their fair share of woes after the French giants lost 1-0 at home to lowly Nancy Lorraine at the Parc des Princes. That was PSG’s second defeat of the season after they lost 1-0 at home to Lorient in their first Ligue 1 game of
the campaign.
While talking about that game, Antoine Kombouare admitted that his side lacked aggression in front of goal and added, “We could have played three or four hours without scoring. We reacted well after conceding, pushing on and pressing them high up the pitch,
but we weren’t clinical enough. We came up against a well-organised bloc and they defended superbly. Well done Nancy.”
Team news
Olympique de Marseille
No suspensions to report from the Marseille camp but Andre-Pierre Gignac is set to miss another game for Marseille after the Frenchman insulted Deschamps on Thursday morning following a heated verbal exchange between the pair.
Jose Anigo was not there to see his side loose against Montpellier as the sporting director is in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 on a scouting mission as the club seeks to make a few moves in the January transfer window.
PSG
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jeremy-Menez-c18345 are set to return to the side after missing the defeat to Nancy due to suspension.
Predictions
With Marseille going through a turbulent and testing time, it will be up to Deschamps to somehow guide his team to shake the giant from its sleep in order to pick up all three points against a PSG side bookies are deeming favourites to win.
Predicted final score: Marseille 1-2 PSG
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