Marseille have endured a difficult start to the season and things are unlikely to get any better when champions Paris Saint-Germain visit on Sunday.
The hosts go into the game following a 4-1 Europa League defeat to Besiktas, while PSG finally recorded their first Ligue 1 win of the campaign by beating Brest 1-0 last weekend.
PSG have dominated this fixture historically, winning 53 of the 112 meetings between the sides, compared with 35 Marseille victories. The Parisians also won the last meeting 5-0.
Marseille v PSG Tips Summary
Best Bet - PSG -1 Handicap @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Ferran Torres to score first @ 9/2
Bet Builder - Ferran Torres to score, Over 3.5 cards, Over 3.5 goals and Under 9 corners @ 15/2
Marseille v PSG Prediction
Best Bet: PSG -1 Handicap @ 1/1
PSG have made an uncharacteristically slow start to their Ligue 1 campaign but finally picked up their first victory last weekend, beating Brest 1-0 through an early Ferran Torres goal.
Luis Enrique's side have still scored in each of their opening four league matches, while they also put six past Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League earlier this month.
Marseille, meanwhile, have lost four of their last five competitive matches and were beaten 4-1 by Besiktas in midweek, leaving Bruno Genesio's side with little momentum heading into Le Classique.
The quality gap is reflected in the market, with PSG priced at 21/50 for the win and 5/6 to overcome a one-goal handicap.
PSG have also won 11 of the last 15 meetings between the clubs, while Marseille have managed only three victories in that period. With the hosts also carrying the fatigue of a midweek Europa League trip, PSG can take advantage and win by at least two goals.
Alternative Bet: Ferran Torres to score first @ 9/2
Ferran Torres has made an outstanding start to life at PSG, scoring six goals in his first five appearances since joining the club.
The Spain international scored after just five minutes against Brest last weekend, continuing his remarkable scoring run after also finding the net in the World Cup final. He is expected to start through the middle of PSG's front three at the Velodrome and is a decent bet in the first-goalscorer market at 9/2.
Marseille have conceded 14 goals in their last five competitive matches, including shipping four goals against Besiktas on Thursday, so Torres can continue his excellent scoring form by opening the scoring at the Velodrome.
Marseille v PSG Bet Builder Tip
Ferran Torres to score
Over 3.5 cards
Over 3.5 goals
Under 9 corners
Pays 15/2
The cards market is another appealing angle given the nature of this fixture. Le Classique is one of French football's biggest rivalries, and the intensity of the occasion can lead to a more physical contest. Referee Francois Letexier has also been averaging around four yellow cards per match.
There is also plenty to like about the over 3.5 goals leg. Marseille's recent defensive problems were highlighted by their 4-1 defeat to Besiktas, while PSG have already demonstrated their attacking potential by scoring six times against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. The previous meeting between these sides ended in a 5-0 PSG victory.
The under 9 corners selection is based on both sides' early season corner profiles. PSG have averaged 6.5 corners per game across their four Ligue 1 matches, but they have also prevented opponents from winning a corner in three of those fixtures. Marseille, meanwhile, have averaged exactly nine total corners per game across their opening four matches.
With PSG's ability to dominate possession while limiting the opposition's opportunities from the corner flag, the combined total can stay below nine at the Velodrome.
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Key Match Stats
PSG have won 11 of the last 15 meetings between the sides (including on penalties)
PSG won the most recent meeting 5-0
Marseille have lost four of their last five competitive matches
Marseille were beaten 4-1 by Besiktas in their most recent match
PSG have scored in each of their opening four Ligue 1 matches
Ferran Torres has scored six goals in his first five appearances for PSG
The last seven meetings have produced an average of 3.3 goals per game
PSG have prevented their opponent from having a corner in three of their four league games this season
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
