Ligue 1 Review | Le Classique looms in shadow of Champions League decider | OneFootball

Le Classique arrives this weekend without the same fanfare that met it at the start of the season. Back in October, the clash between France’s two most successful football clubs was a hotly anticipated affair. At the time, Olympique de Marseille were on Paris Saint-Germain’s tails with only three points separating the teams.

That match proved to be a reality check for Marseille. João Neves opened the scoring in the 7th minute before Amine Harit’s red card precipitated a total collapse. PSG had recorded their third goal before the half-time whistle and would never need to leave second gear to see out the 3-0 victory.

Since October, Marseille have kept hold of their position as the best of the rest in Ligue 1, but that has not meant that they’ve delivered on the promise of a title race. Following the weekend’s results, PSG sit 16 points above Marseille in second. Which can partly explain why the upcoming fixture at the Parc des Princes between the two rivals looms from the shadows rather than dominates the conversation in France.

PSG look to Liverpool clash

Instead of Le Classique, there is an almost feverish focus on tomorrow night when Les Parisiens travel to Anfield and attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their fight to remain in the Champions League. It was the topic that dominated the post-match following PSG’s 4-1 victory over Stade Rennais on Saturday night.

Luis Enrique, before the Rennes victory, had strenuously denied that he was thinking of anything other than his Ligue 1 opposition. However, those rather thin denials were dropped after the game when with a smile he told reporters, “I’ve been lying to you. Of course I’ve been thinking about Liverpool and that’s been the case since the draw for the Last 16.”

While, Lucas Hernandez in the mixed zone stated, “It was important to continue our winning streak before the match in Liverpool. Everyone feels good and we’re all ready for Tuesday. I think we put in what we needed to win. We wanted to show we’re a big team by taking this match seriously. We are very confident of Tuesday… It’s never easy to play at Anfield but we have a great group, a great team that’s currently at its best.”

Marseille attempt to ‘turn the page’

In Marseille, the mood music was very different. ‘Wesh Alors’ rang out from the RC Lens supporters as they watched their club record a smash and grab 94th minute winner at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday evening. The song has become an anthem for Marseille’s victories and the Lens faithful took the chance to mock their hosts.

“We have to stay calm,” Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi cautioned following the 1-0 loss. “We have to turn the page and think about Paris.” Le Classique comes at an inopportune time for the club. Results have been mixed with the defeat to Lens meaning that Marseille have now lost three of their last seven games.

All of this contributes to the feeling that for both teams Sunday’s match looms rather than approaches with pride the only thing at stake. For PSG, the ‘north-south derby’ comes as a distraction in a week where they’re focused on their European quest, and for Marseille it is a reminder that improvements will have to be made over the summer if they have any hope of taking the next step and challenging their bitter rivals for the title.

This week’s Ligue 1 subplots

https://twitter.com/GFFN/status/1899103801140748651

GFFN | Nick Hartland