Paris Saint-Germain arrive at the Velodrome on Sunday night with the noise of a Classique waiting at the gates and three more points in sight. Luis Enrique’s side face Marseille at 20:45, bringing the fifth Ligue 1 matchday to a close.
Luis Enrique expects the unexpected in Marseille
The PSG coach has won six of his seven previous Classiques since taking charge in Paris in 2023, but he believes this eighth meeting with Marseille presents a different challenge.
- Marseille have changed their coach since the previous Classique.
- A number of players have also left the club.
- Luis Enrique said those changes make it difficult to predict exactly how Marseille will set up or how their players will approach the contest.
“The circumstances are different for tomorrow’s match because Marseille have changed their coach and many players have departed,” Luis Enrique said. “It is therefore hard to know what to expect.”
He nevertheless expects a demanding night in an atmosphere that can quickly become overwhelming when France’s two most prominent rivals meet at the Velodrome.
“We have to be ready, whatever their line-up and whatever the behaviour of the players we face,” he said. “One thing is certain: there will be an atmosphere for this Classique. It is difficult for players to play this kind of match. We must pay attention to many things that we cannot control.
“But these are matches that attract supporters and matter to us as a team. We will try to take the three points.”
No room for complacency
Luis Enrique insisted his players will not treat the occasion lightly, despite their strong recent record in the fixture and their experience of major Ligue 1 and Champions League nights.
“This match is so different that no player will be relaxed,” the former Barcelona coach said. “That is impossible for a PSG player before a Classique. We are used to these games. We will be ready to try to win it.
“Both teams will have motivation. We will try to be superior, but it will not be easy.”
Marseille’s early-season difficulties have not changed the importance PSG place on the fixture. Luis Enrique stressed that the stakes extend beyond the league table, with the result carrying weight for the club, the squad and supporters.
“It is a Classique, which is why we speak of it as a different match. It is special,” he said. “The three points matter for the club, the team and the fans. Players may be excited because this environment gives you extra motivation.
“We will try to control our emotions, because that is important in our way of controlling the match.”
Bruno Genesio’s team will seek to end a run of four straight defeats, while Ousmane Dembele and his PSG team-mates are aiming for a third consecutive victory.
