PSG-Marseille preview: ‘world best’ Mbappé vs managerless OM

The ice appears to have well and truly thawed between PSG and Mbappé of late. Left at home for the club’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, Mbappé has since been restored to the club’s attack and is in blistering form.

The attacker has scored seven goals in four Ligue 1 Uber Eats games – just three of them starts – since returning to the team, at a rate of one every 44 minutes he has played.

Mbappé ‘the best player in the world’

Mbappé also opened his account for the season in Europe on Tuesday as Paris kicked off their UEFA Champions League Group F campaign with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, and Enrique is convinced he’s the best in the business.

“Kylian for me is the best player in the world,” said the Spaniard, whose team are beginning to click with three wins in four in all competitions. “But more than his technical qualities, what struck me is his human quality. It’s a pleasure to have him in the dressing room, he’s a leader who always has a smile.”

Watch: Highlights of PSG’s 3-2 loss to Nice

The lone blemish in that recent run came against OGC Nice last Friday, when les Aiglons ran out 3-2 winners despite Mbappé’s brace – a result that left the champions in fifth, three points off AS Monaco’s league-setting pace.

PSG have welcomed back Presnel Kimpembe and Fabian Ruiz from injury since that reverse, while Marco Asensio and Nuno Mendes remain on the sidelines with foot and hamstring problems respectively. Sergio Rico is in recovery after a near-death head injury.

Ramos or RKM?

Enrique is likely to put out a full-strength team against rivals OM, who, whilst thrown into turmoil of late, begin the day two places and one point better off than their hosts. Goncalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani at the point of the attack appears to be the biggest unanswered question for the coach.

Marseille had made a promising enough start to the season under Enrique’s former Sporting Gijon teammate Marcelino, going undefeated in their first five Ligue 1 Uber Eats games of the campaign.

Watch: Highlights of Marseille’s goalless draw with Toulouse

But their Champions League journey ended in the third qualifying round with defeat to Panathinaikos, and Marcelino walked ahead of the club’s UEFA Europa League meeting with Ajax on Thursday.

“The entire club is extremely disappointed to have to deal with the departure of a coach and technical staff, who only arrived in Marseille on 23 June and were fully committed to the club, for non-sporting reasons,” read a club statement.

Temporary charge

Marseille sporting director David Friio, alongside first team coach Jacques Abardonado, have taken provisional charge and could still be in the dugout at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Whomever is picking the team on Sunday will be without Ismaïla Sarr, who has a hamstring injury, as well as the suspended Pape Gueye. François-Régis Mughe remains favourite to replace the former on the right flank.

Possible teams

PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Zaïre-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha; Dembélé, Ramos, Mbappé

Marseille: Lopez; Clauss, Gigot, Mbemba, Lodi; Mughe, Rongier, Veretout, Correa; Vitinha, Aubameyang