Lionel Messi will look to carry PSG through to the quarterfinals of the Coupe de France as the Parisian club travels to visit fellow Ligue 1 heavyweights Olympique de Marseille in a cup edition of Le Classique.
With Kylian Mbappe and Neymar both sidelined with injuries, Messi is the star of the PSG show for now. He'll have bigger fish to fry as he leads the way against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but this match will provide a solid litmus test for how ready the PSG attack is solely behind the Argentine legend. Neymar is close to a return and could feature here, but he'll likely be eased back in.
PSG suffered a host of slips in Ligue 1 play through January, but back-to-back league wins under Messi's watch have them back to feeling in control of their season.
Marseille, who sit second in the Ligue 1 table, eight points back of leaders PSG, are winless in their last five matches against the Parisians across all competitions, last victorious in September of 2020 when they won 1-0 at Parc des Princes. OM have not beaten PSG in front of their home fans since November of 2011, a run of 10 home matches without a win.
MORE: Lionel Messi's stats for the 2022/23 season with PSG and Argentina
🔙🗓️ #OnThisDay
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 7, 2023
In 2021, @PSG_English won the 💯th #Classique 🆚 Marseille (0-2) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YcLIblX9mO
How to watch Marseille vs PSG
Because this match is a Coupe de France game and not French league action, it is less televised worldwide than a normal meeting between these two Ligue 1 heavyweights.
Here's what time the match is taking place in multiple territories and whether the game is being televised or streamed in that territory.
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Wed, Feb. 8 | 15:10 ET | — | Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Sports GO |
| UK | Wed, Feb. 8 | 20:10 GMT | — | — |
| Australia | Thu, Feb. 9 | 07:10 AEST | beIN Sports 3 | beIN Sports Connect, Kayo Sports |
| Canada | Wed, Feb. 8 | 15:10 ET | beIN Sports | fuboTV, beIN Sports Connect |
| India | Thu, Feb. 9 | 01:40 IST | — | — |
| New Zealand | Thu, Feb. 9 | 09:10 NZST | Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports | beIN Sports Connect |
| Malaysia | Thu, Feb. 9 | 04:10 MT | — | — |
| Singapore | Thu, Feb. 9 | 04:10 SST | — | — |
| Hong Kong | Thu, Feb. 9 | 04:10 HKST | beIN Sports 2 | beIN Sports Connect, Now Player |
Marseille vs PSG projected lineups & team news
Eric Bailly is still suspended for the red card he picked up against Hyeres in the first round of the Coupe de France, while fellow defender Leonardo Balerdi is also banned due to yellow card accumulation.
That means Marseille will likely play a back-three seeing former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac join Samuel Gigot and Chancel Mbemba.
Playmaker Amine Harit suffered an ACL sprain in November, and while it's not expected to be as bad as a full tear, there's still no timeline on his potential return.
Marseille projected starting lineup (3-5-2): Lopez (GK) — Mbemba, Gigot, Kolasinac — Clauss, Veretout, Guendouzi, Payet, Tavares — A. Sanchez, Under.
Two of PSG's three-headed attacking monster are struggling with injuries, as Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are both sidelined with thigh problems. Mbappe has already been ruled out for this game and the Champions League knockout first leg against Bayern Munich.
Neymar has returned to training and could feature in this match, but it's likely he will be eased back in given the Champions League games to come. The same goes for Sergio Ramos, and Danilo Pereira could get another game at centre-back.
That leaves Lionel Messi to lead the attacking line alongside Hugo Ekitike. It seemed Renato Sanches would get a chance in the thinned team but he too went off injured last time out against Toulouse and is out. Presnel Kimpembe is close to returning but is not yet available, while the same goes for Nordi Mukiele.
PSG projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Donnarumma (GK) — Hakimi, Marquinhos, Danilo, Mendes — Vitinha, Verratti, Zaire-Emery, Soler — Messi, Ekitike.
Leo Messi with the fine footwork 🔥#Skill | #PSGTFC pic.twitter.com/7IPsT2anSR
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 6, 2023
Marseille vs PSG betting odds & lines
Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Neds (Australia).
PSG are considered slight favorites in this match, but given their injury struggles, a tight affair is expected. PSG are plus-odds favorites, while Marseille's moneyline odds are considered better than the draw.
Despite the injuries to Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, one thing bookmakers can clearly agree on is that this match will provide lots of goals. Both teams are hugely expected to score, while the over is heavily inflated as well. Marseille have a high-powered attack to provide as well, with Alexis Sanchez and Dimitri Payet both in good form this season.
| BetMGM | Sports Interaction | SkyBet | Neds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marseille win | +210 | +206 | 11/5 | 3.10 |
| Draw | +250 | +241 | 13/5 | 3.40 |
| PSG win | +105 | +109 | 21/10 | 2.00 |
| Both teams to score Y / N | -175 / +125 | -196 / +122 | 8/15, 11/8 | 1.50 / 2.38 |
| Over / Under 2.5 goals | -160 / +110 | -156 / +113 | 8/13, 6/5 | 1.62 / 2.20 |
| PSG -0.5 | +100 | +110 | — | — |
| Marseille +0.5 | -145 | -145 | — | — |
| PSG to advance | -165 | — | — | — |
| OM to advance | +115 | — | — | — |
