Luis Enrique highlights importance of 'special' clash with Marseille

Lens' 3-1 win over Rennes on Saturday saw them move back to the top of Ligue 1, with PSG a point behind.

Roberto De Zerbi's team bounced back from a 2-2 draw against Paris FC last time out in the league with a 3-0 win over Rennes in the Coupe de France. PSG, meanwhile, came back from a goal down to beat Strasbourg 2-1 in their last Ligue 1 match.

PSG and Marseille boast the highest averages for possession (69% for PSG, 59% for Roberto De Zerbi's side), passes per game (736 and 582), and line-breaking passes per game (82 and 62) in Ligue 1 2025-26.

Luis Enrique is anticipating a thrilling match between two attacking sides at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, but hopes that tempers will not boil over.

"We know how important this match is, and we want to give our fans a great game of football and a win," said the Spanish coach.

"These are unique matches; they're always special. And you can feel the excitement that a Classique brings.

"Every time we play this type of match, the atmosphere is different. It was the same in Marseille. It's an incredible atmosphere, a football atmosphere.

"What I would like is to see no violence of any kind. Enjoy the match, enjoy how Paris Saint-Germain plays. That's what I would like. The atmosphere is important to us, the atmosphere around the team.

"They're an attacking team, and I think they're similar to us in their approach to the game. So we know it'll be a tough game, but we're motivated to win this Classique. We know the atmosphere will be great!"

Doue could play his 100th Ligue 1 match (57 with Rennes, 42 so far with PSG). The 20-year-old has scored 16 goals and supplied 13 assists in his 99 Ligue 1 appearances.

He is one of only three players with 10 or more appearances in Ligue 1 2025-26 without suffering a defeat (11), alongside team-mates Bradley Barcola (17) and Lucas Beraldo (10).

Aubameyang has found the back of the net in each of Marseille's last two matches in all competitions, entering this match in fine form.

However, of the teams Aubameyang has played at least 500 minutes against in his European career, he has scored fewer goals only against Marseille (0) than against PSG (one goal in 812 minutes in all competitions, with St. Etienne in November 2012 in Ligue 1).

PSG have won 16 of their last 18 home matches against Marseille in all competitions (D1 L1), as many as they had in their first 37 such encounters (D11 L10).

And they have failed to score in just two of their last 40 Ligue 1 matches, against Monaco in November and Marseille in September (both 0-1 defeats).

However, PSG have failed to win any of their last two games against Marseille (0-1 in Ligue 1, 2-2 in Trophee des Champions, which they won on penalties), a first since March-November 2011 (L2 in Ligue 1).

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