Ronaldinho’s message ahead of Le Classique | OneFootball

Considered the biggest rivalry in French football, another chapter in Le Classique takes place on Sunday at the Stade Vélodrome.

Only three points currently separate third-placed Olympique de Marseille from table-topping Paris Saint-Germain heading into this encounter.

Ahead of what promises to be a heated fixture, a hero from the past is reflecting on his participation in this famous derby. Ronaldinho spent two seasons with Les Parisiens in the early 2000s and fondly remembers this rivalry.

Sunday will mark 22 years and a day from the Brazilian’s splendid outing in Le Classique, when he notched a brace in a 3-0 victory on October 26, 2002. “Memories of Le Classique… Victory in Le Classique with two goals. 20 years later and the affection of the Paris fans remains the same,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).

PSG have won their last three Ligue meetings with Marseille, failing to concede a single goal in any of those outings.

OM have only won one of their previous 18 visits to the Parc des Princes, claiming a 1-0 victory in a September 2021 Ligue 1 fixture, with the only goal on that occasion coming courtesy of Florian Thauvin (31).

It has been over 12 years since OM came away with maximum points from a top-flight fixture against PSG at the Vélodrome, claiming a 3-0 triumph in November 2011.

Luis Enrique’s men have claimed just one victory in their last four competitive fixtures (4-2 over RC Strasbourg), while Roberto De Zerbi’s side are coming off a 5-0 win over Montpellier HSC last weekend, ending a two-match winless run in the process.

Next month, the 2002 World Cup winner will participate in a Legends match between France and Brazil at Stade Raymond-Kopa in Angers on November 15.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre