PARIS: Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain face their biggest rival Marseille at Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Marseille’s longstanding bragging rights as the only French side to win the Champions League finally ended when PSG won it in emphatic style last season. On the domestic front, PSG have pulled away from Marseille with 13 Ligue 1 titles compared to nine.
PSG have won their four league games so far.
“We know the importance of this match, for the fans and the club,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “It’s a strong rivalry.”
Marseille have improved under coach Roberto De Zerbi but the players still lack confidence and De Zerbi demanded they show more daring and ambition after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Second-placed Lille are the only other unbeaten side and have a northern derby at Lens on Saturday.
Key matchups
Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi could be in for a busy night, whoever he faces.
While it might be a relief that he doesn’t have to deal with injured stars Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, his performance in central defense is crucial to Marseille’s chances.
It’s a question of which Balerdi will turn up.
Will it be the combative and rugged Balerdi who did well in a man-marking role against Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé on Tuesday? Or the error-prone Balerdi who has given away clumsy goals since joining four years ago?
PSG defenders will keep a close eye on Marseille forward Mason Greenwood. He set up United States winger Tim Weah’s goal against Madrid and has two goals and three assists so far in Ligue 1.
Players to watch
Aladji Bamba is the latest player to come through Monaco’s reputed youth academy. The 19-year-old midfielder impressed on his first start last weekend in a win against Auxerre.
He is set to feature against Metz on Sunday, and could get more playing time in the next few weeks as former France star Paul Pogba works his way back to fitness.
Former Barcelona prodigy Ansu Fati could also make his Ligue 1 debut for Monaco.
Out of action
Monaco midfielder Denis Zakaria will miss several weeks with a thigh muscle injury.
Injury-hit PSG are waiting for further news on key midfielder João Neves after he limped off early in the second half of Wednesday’s 4-0 rout of Atalanta in the Champions League.
Off the field
Lens fans are still angry about heavy-handed policing before and after last Sunday’s game at Paris Saint-Germain.
Lens supporters’ groups complained about being surrounded by aggressive French riot police with baton shields raised when they arrived at a pre-designated area near Parc des Princes.
When other police officers came on to search the buses, Lens supporters said they were prevented from leaving the bus by the riot police — known as the CRS — who were outside. Women on board were not even allowed to step out to use the toilet when they asked.
Tensions boiled over and led to brief but violent clashes.
“The club wishes to express their deep concern about the conditions reserved for football supporters,” Lens said in a statement. “Respect for supporters and the preservation of a peaceful atmosphere in stadiums requires clear rules applied consistently.”
Lens do not have a history of hooliganism and fans expressed outrage at their treatment.
The French riot police were roundly criticized for their aggressive behavior before the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Ligue 1 leader PSG face bitter rival Marseille and Lille look to stay unbeaten
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Ligue 1 leader PSG face bitter rival Marseille and Lille look to stay unbeaten
- “We know the importance of this match, for the fans and the club,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said
- Marseille have improved under coach Roberto De Zerbi but the players still lack confidence
Karl and Gnabry spark Bayern to comeback win over Sporting
- Gnabry set up defender Jonathan Tah for a late goal to ensure Bayern claimed all three points
- Karl became the youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League games
MUNICH: Revitalized striker Serge Gnabry and teenage forward Lennart Karl helped inspire Bayern Munich to a come-from-behind 3-1 home win over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday.
With Bayern trailing to a Joshua Kimmich own-goal midway through the second half and staring down the barrel of a second-successive European loss, Gnabry and Karl scored in quick succession to wrestle the match in Bayern’s favor.
Gnabry set up defender Jonathan Tah for a late goal to ensure Bayern claimed all three points and rose to second in the league phase standings, behind Arsenal on goal difference.
“The first 10 minutes of the second half weren’t very good, but we stayed calm,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany told DAZN.
“We have done our job well so far and we want to see it through to the end.”
The top 24 sides make it through to the knockout rounds, with the top eight qualifying for the last 16 directly.
Karl became the youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League games, beating the record previously held by Kylian Mbappe.
“To be in the Champions League at the age of 17 is something very, very special for me,” Karl told DAZN. “I’m proud of myself — and of the team.”
Despite the loss, the Portuguese champions sit ninth in the 36-team table with two games remaining.
- Seven changes for Bayern -
Kompany made seven changes to his starting XI, recalling Harry Kane, Gnabry, Karl, Manuel Neuer and Tah who were rested on Saturday against Stuttgart with Sporting’s visit in mind.
Bayern have scored more goals than any other club in Europe’s top-five leagues this season and went agonizingly close several times in the opening half.
Karl’s fifth-minute goal was ruled out for offside and Kane hit the post on the half-hour mark. Kane, Karl and Gnabry all forced Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva into acrobatic stops before the break.
Sporting’s best chance in the opening half came when Geny Catamo put in a cross which Tah almost guided into his own net, forcing Neuer into a reflex save.
Some more Bayern friendly fire put Sporting in front early in the second period, with Neuer this time helpless as Kimmich deflected a Joao Simoes cross in with 54 minutes gone.
The goal jolted Bayern into gear and the German champions soon struck back to take the lead with two goals in four minutes.
Unmarked at the back post, Gnabry tapped in a Michael Olize corner to level things up. Karl latched onto a Konrad Laimer pass before blasting in on the turn from a tight angle.
With 13 minutes remaining, Kimmich and Tah made good on their defensive errors by combining for Bayern’s third, with a little help from Gnabry.
Kimmich looped in a dipping cross to Gnabry, who headed centrally for Tah to poke home.
With three minutes remaining, Kompany withdrew Gnabry and brought Alphonso Davies onto the pitch, the Canada captain playing his first match since tearing his ACL in March.
