Bragging rights as important as points for Luis Enrique´s PSG

Beating bitter rivals Marseille is just as important to Paris Saint-Germain as extending their lead at the top of Ligue 1, Luis Enrique said ahead of Sunday’s Classique.

Defending champions PSG are unbeaten after 25 league matches, with their 65 points putting them 16 clear of Roberto De Zerbi’s second-placed Marseille.

This is the seventh time in the last 10 seasons that the league leaders (always PSG) have been at least 10 points clear of second after 25 games of a Ligue 1 campaign.

That had only occurred three times in the previous 21 campaigns since the switch to three points for a win in 1994-95.

And with the title all but secured, Luis Enrique knows the true value of Sunday’s game is in the bragging rights they can give their supporters.

“This match represents one of the best games we can play. We can still bring joy to our fans,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Saturday.

“The importance of the derby has nothing to do with the standings.”

Marseille have themselves enjoyed an excellent first campaign under De Zerbi, whose 60% win rate in Ligue 1 (15/25) is the best of any coach to oversee more than two games with the club.

Marseille have scored 52 goals in 25 league matches this season, an average of 2.08 goals per game.

They have only averaged more in one season since 1970-71 (2.11 in 2017-18).

“He’s going to fight for possession and press high, with one-on-ones. The match isn’t just an emotional affair, it’s also tactical,” Luis Enrique said of his opposite number.

PSG eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League with a memorable penalty shoot-out victory at Anfield on Tuesday, with Desire Doue converting the decisive kick.

Captain Marquinhos was surprisingly replaced in second-half stoppage time on Merseyside, but Luis Enrique has reassured fans the Brazilian is not injured.

“He had some discomfort – it’s not an injury at all, he’s fine,” he added. “We’ll analyse the risk to see whether we should take it or not.

“He’s not going to get a rest during the international break. I’m going to continue with my rotation, that’s the way I see the game. We’re always competitive.”