PARIS ‑ Bitter French rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille are set to do battle for the second time in less than a month tonight when the pair meet at the Parc des Princes for a spot in the quarterfinals of the Coupe de la Ligue. Report by Reuters
The two title challengers played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Stade Velodrome during the first weekend of October and the stage is set for another heated ‘classique’ encounter, with Marseille defender Rod Fanni underlining the magnitude of the occasion.
“There will never be a friendly match between Marseille and PSG,” said Fanni.
“There is something extra, it’s different (from other fixtures). We know all the hype they make about matches between Paris and Marseille. In people’s minds we represent them. When things go well, they tease their enemies. We know for them, it’s important,”Fanni told OM.net.
Three-time defending League Cup champions Marseille dropped to third in the table after strong winds forced the postponement of their match at home to Lyon, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued his seamless transition to life in Ligue 1 as his goal moved PSG three points clear at the summit.
Carlo Ancelotti has a strong squad to choose from with Nene (fractured cheekbone) and Thiago Motta (back) the only absentees, while Marseille counterpart Elie Baup will be without the services of leading scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac as well as defensive stalwart Souleymane Diawara, who suffered a minor setback on his return from a long injury lay-off last weekend.
