France stops to watch this Sunday, February 8, 2026, as the Parc des Princes hosts the third and most consequential Classique of the season. With Paris Saint-Germain holding a nine-point lead at the top of the table, this match represents Marseille's final stand to keep the Ligue 1 title race alive.
Match Details
Fixture: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Olympique de Marseille
Competition: Ligue 1 (Round 21)
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Time: 20:45 CET / 19:45 GMT
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
Referee: Willy Delajod
Pre-Match Analysis
PSG: Closing the Door on the Race
Luis Enrique’s side is on a mission to extinguish any hope for their rivals. Currently in 1st place (48 points), the Parisians have been remarkably consistent, losing only twice in 20 matches. However, they are still reeling from a physical midweek Champions League draw against Newcastle that left the squad fatigued.
PSG's season has been defined by the emergence of Bradley Barcola and the creative mastery of Vitinha. While they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Marseille earlier this season at the Vélodrome, their recent penalty shootout victory over OM in the Trophée des Champions in January has restored their psychological dominance in the capital.
Marseille: De Zerbi’s Decider
For Roberto De Zerbi, this is more than just a derby; it's a crossroads. Marseille sits in 3rd place (39 points), trailing PSG by nine points. A loss on Sunday would effectively end their title aspirations, leaving them to focus purely on a Champions League spot.
OM’s form has been a rollercoaster. They arrive following a disappointing 2-2 draw against Paris FC and a bruising 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge in Europe. However, with Mason Greenwood leading the league's scoring charts (13 goals), Marseille possesses the individual quality to punish a PSG backline that will be missing its most important defensive asset.
Team News & Injury Reports
PSG Team News
Out: Achraf Hakimi is suspended following a red card against Strasbourg. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabián Ruiz, and Quentin Ndjantou are all ruled out with injuries.
Returning: Gonçalo Ramos is back to full fitness and expected to lead the line after his heroics in the Trophée des Champions.
Player to Watch: Bradley Barcola. In the absence of Kvaratskhelia, Barcola’s 1v1 ability on the wing will be the primary engine of the PSG attack.
Marseille Team News
Out: Emerson Palmieri is a doubt with a leg injury. Nayef Aguerd is also unavailable as he remains on international duty.
Suspended: Arthur Vermeeren and Bilal Nadir are both out.
Returning: Amine Gouiri and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are expected to rotate back into the starting XI to provide more veteran presence in a hostile atmosphere.
Player to Watch: Mason Greenwood. Currently the most clinical finisher in the league, he scored in the last meeting and remains the biggest threat to PSG’s home unbeaten streak.
Predicted Starting Lineups
PSG (4-3-3):
Chevalier; Zague, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves, Zaïre-Emery; Ousmane Dembélé, Gonçalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola.
Marseille (3-4-3):
Geronimo Rulli; Benjamin Pavard, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina; Timothy Weah, Højbjerg, Quinten Timber, Quentin Merlin; Mason Greenwood, Amine Gouiri, Paixão.
Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Recent Meetings: The season series is tied at 1-1-1 (including the Trophée des Champions draw/shootout).
Home Dominance: PSG has won their last 6 home league matches against Marseille.
Scoring Machine: Marseille has scored the most goals in Ligue 1 this season (46), while PSG has conceded the fewest (16).
The "Greenwood" Factor: Mason Greenwood averages a goal every 118 minutes in Ligue 1 this season.
Prediction: PSG 2–1 Marseille
This will be a tactical chess match between Luis Enrique and Roberto De Zerbi. Marseille's offensive firepower will likely find a way through a Hakimi-less defense, but PSG’s depth and home record at the Parc des Princes usually prove decisive in the final 20 minutes. Expect a high-intensity battle where the Parisians take a massive step toward their 13th title.
Top Betting Tips:
Match Result: PSG Win. They haven't lost a Classique at home in Ligue 1 since 2020.
Both Teams to Score: Yes. Both sides feature the top attackers in the league and have shown defensive lapses lately.
To Score Anytime: Bradley Barcola. He is the designated "big game" player for PSG in 2026.
