'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Marseille and PSG will resume their historic rivalry in the 101st edition of Le Classique in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
With nine victories from ten games this season, Les Parisiens are running away with the league. Against Marseille, they will look to continue their high-flying start to the 2021-22 league campaign. Marseille, meanwhile, are in third with 17 points, and look determined to end their decade-long wait for a league title.
Last season, the away team won both Les Classiques, with Marseille snatching a late 1-0 victory in Paris before going down 2-0 at the Stade Vélodrome in February.
However, a lot has changed since then, with both sides making several valuable additions to their squad as they aim to wrestle the title away from Lille.
Ahead of the much-anticipated kick-off, here's a look at how PSG and Marseille would stack up in a hypothetical combined XI: (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
After six incredible years in Serie A with AC Milan, Gianluigi Donnarumma sought newer pastures when he joined PSG on a free transfer this summer. The Italian, coming off triumphant Euro 2020 campaign with the Azzurri, has taken little time to prove his worth to PSG, putting up impressive displays in goal.
Donnarumma has been around the block long enough and accomplished so much that it's easy to forget he is still only 22. It's scary to think that he could only get better.
A world-class goalkeeper, the youngster is also praised for his discipline, concentration, game intelligence and professionalism, in addition to his talismanic displays in goal.
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
Achraf Hakimi's rise to stardom in the last few years has been meteoric. Now, he's widely considered to be among the best full-backs.
A creative genius with exquisite crossing ability and an eye for goal, the Moroccan has brought a new dimension to PSG's attack. Hakimi's link-up plays with Kylian Mbappe have been particularly devastating.
Hakimi has had five goal contributions in ten league games, and has registered a passing accuracy of 90%.
Centre-back: Marquinhos (PSG)
Marquinhos joined PSG six years ago, and has since developed into a genuine leader at the back. His consistency is phenomenal, and he is widely hailed as one of the best centre-backs in the world.
Still only 27, the Brazilian, a Copa America winner, brings silk and steel to the PSG backline. His style of intelligent defending while emphasising on smart positioning and reading acumen make him a force to be reckoned with.
Marquinhos also uses his tall physique to carry an attacking threat from set-pieces, and scores key goals, thanks to his aerial prowess.
Centre-back: William Saliba (Marseille)
Marseille have so many promising young talents in their squad, including William Saliba, who's on loan from Arsenal. His promising displays have earned him plaudits from Marseille manager Jorge Sampaoli, who rates him as a potential superstar.
Those claims are not unfounded. Saliba is an excellent passer of the ball, averaging a 94.6% pass-success rate in Ligue 1 this season, and reads the game brilliantly too.
He's been key to building attacks from the back, is positionally aware, and has shown composure on the ball that belies his age. Against the likes of Lionel Messi and Mbappe, though, Saliba will have his work cut out.
Left-back: Konrad De la Fuente (Marseille)
Among the lesser-known American players currently making their mark in Europe's major leagues is Konrad De la Fuente. He is a Barcelona graduate looking to hone his skills at Marseille.
A lack of opportunities in Catalonia last season, when he made only three appearances, brought him to Ligue 1 this summer. He's making the most of the chances.
The 20-year-old excels in forward runs, and loves to join the attack. No wonder he has bagged two assists this season already. He also averages over one key pass a game, and could be a threat if PSG ignore him.
Defensive Midfielder: Idrissa Gueye (PSG)
PSG's array of attacking stars may have grabbed all the headlines. But Idrissa Gueye has starred in their strong start to the 2021-22 league campaign. His high energy level and unerring ability to win the ball with perfectly timed tackles and interceptions has added quality to PSG's midfield.
Although the Senegalese is tasked with doing all the dirty work, he has started adding goals to his game too. Gueye has netted four times this season already, including three in just six Ligue 1 appearances.
Defensive Midfielder: Matteo Guendozi (Marseille)
After falling out of favour at Arsenal, Matteo Guendozi came to Marseille on a season-long loan in the summer, and so far, he has done great.
Jorge Sampaoli is getting the best out of Guendouzi by pushing the 22-year-old into a more advanced role in midfield. The player has relished the extra attacking responsibility.
With three goals and two assists in Ligue 1 already, Guendozi is enjoying a new lease of life in his home country. Marseille stand to gain enormously from his improved form, and he could be a key player for them against PSG on Sunday.
Right Winger: Angel Di Maria (PSG)
Should Neymar be deemed unfit to start or even feature on the PSG bench, Angel Di Maria will take the Brazilian's place on the right.
Di Maria's form in the 2021-22 campaign hasn't been inspiring, and he has also struggled with fitness issues. But the Argentine's playmaking prowess are second to none.
An agile, creative and highly technical player who possesses precocious dribbling skills, Di Maria is also a direct goal-threat. Marseille have been suitably warned.
Attacking Midfielder: Dimitri Payet (Marseille)
It seems like a long time ago when Dimitri Payet scored those long-range peaches and exquisite free-kicks in the Premier League with West Ham United. But if you've been following Ligue 1, or Marseille in particular, you wouldn't have missed any of them, as the Frenchman has produced more of the same here.
In the current season, too, he has contributed heavily to Marseille's strong start to the season, scoring five times and making four assists.
It's a no-brainer that Payet would be the single biggest Marseille threat against PSG. His searing pace, unpredictable movements and predatory instincts make him absolutely menacing to play against.
Left Winger: Lionel Messi (PSG)
Quite remarkably, Lionel Messi is yet to score in Ligue 1; all three of his goals for PSG so far have come in the UEFA Champions League.
However, if he needed an occasion to finally open his Ligue 1 account, then this is it. This is the 'El Clasico' of the French top flight, and Messi's record in the Spanish equivalent of the same is imperious.
It's been a tough start to life in Paris for the Argentine maestro. But his clutch goals in Europe, especially his late double against RB Leipzig, showed he can be a game-changer for his team.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
PSG's golden boy has had a turbulent last few weeks, witnessing a slight drop in form and being riddled with exit rumours. But the international break helped Kylian Mbappe return fit and firing for PSG again.
He has scored in each of PSG's last two games since the international break, taking his tally to six for the season. Mbappe has also weighed in with eight assists.
With his confidence restored, Kylian Mbappe will now look to equal or surpass Edinson Cavani in second place for most Le Classique goals (7).
