Forced to watch their Champions League rivals battle for places in the final four from the comforts of their living rooms in midweek, PSG’s domestic push is at least gathering momentum once again, with Mauricio Pochettino’s men in ruthless form since the international break.
After putting five past Lorient earlier this month, Les Parisiens went one better by hitting Clermont for six at the Stade Gabriel-Montpied, and it was their famed front three who stole the show, as Kylian Mbappe and Neymar both bagged trebles while Lionel Messi had three assists to his name.
Messi’s distinct lack of goals in his debut Ligue 1 season have been somewhat alarming, but the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is in a category of his own after registering three assists in a French top-flight game for the second time this season, and Pochettino’s legendary attacking triumvirate is finally beginning to come together.
With only seven games left to play in the 2021-22 season, a 12-point chasm separates champions-elect PSG from their closest challengers Marseille, and Pochettino’s side can therefore take a massive step towards reclaiming what is rightfully theirs with victory in Sunday’s match.
The performances away from home have not always been there for PSG, but the runaway leaders have amassed a staggering 16 wins from their last 17 home matches in the league – including each of their last seven – and the jet lag could be in full effect for their Classique rivals, who will somehow endeavour to hand PSG their first home league defeat of the season.
Electing to rest timeless veteran Dimitri Payet for the Europa Conference League paid dividends for Jorge Sampaoli and Marseille, who could yet end the season with a piece of European silverware to their name after seeing off Greek outfit PAOK in the quarter-finals.
Boasting a 2-1 advantage from the first leg at the Orange Velodrome, Marseille made the 2000km journey to Greece worthwhile as Payet’s 14th goal of the season in all competitions confirmed their place in the final four, where Dutch giants Feyenoord keenly await their arrival.
Victory over PAOK on Thursday night represented an eighth win on the bounce in all competitions for this exciting Marseille side, who have refused to let their European commitments get in the way of their podium push and anticipated return to Europe’s top table in the Champions League.
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The gap to PSG may be too steep to make up, but Marseille’s second-placed destiny is firmly in their own hands as they sit three points clear of third-placed Rennes and seven better off than Strasbourg, and back-to-back clean sheets will be welcomed after they failed to record a single shutout in the first six games of their winning run.
Les Olympiens have been a force to be reckoned with away from home ever since the autumn months and have taken 33 points from a possible 45 on rival turf in Ligue 1 – the best record in the entire division – but only one of their last 24 Classique derbies with PSG has ended in victory
