Le Classique
PSG/OM at the Parc des Princes in September 2007. | |
| Other names | Le Classico, Le Clasico, Le Derby de France |
|---|---|
| Location | France |
| Teams | Paris Saint-Germain Olympique de Marseille |
| First meeting | 12 December 1971 Division 1 Marseille 4–2 Paris Saint-Germain |
| Latest meeting | 16 March 2025 Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain 3–1 Marseille |
| Next meeting | 21 September 2025 Ligue 1 Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain |
| Stadiums | Parc des Princes, Paris Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 109 |
| Most wins | Paris Saint-Germain (52) |
| Most player appearances | Steve Mandanda (30) |
| Top scorer | Zlatan Ibrahimović (11) |
| All-time record | Paris Saint-Germain: 52 Draw: 23 Marseille: 34 |
| Largest victory | Paris Saint-Germain 5–1 Marseille Division 1 (8 January 1978) Marseille 1–5 Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 (26 February 2017) |
Marseille Paris Saint-Germain | |
Le Classique (French pronunciation: [lə klasik], The Classic) is the name given to any football match between rival French clubs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille (OM). They are the two most successful clubs in French football and the only French teams to have won major European trophies. Therefore, this matchup is considered the biggest rivalry in France.
PSG and OM were the dominant teams before the emergence of Olympique Lyonnais in the 2000s, and are the most followed French teams internationally. Both clubs lead or come close to the top of French attendances each season. Their clashes during the 1970s gave little indication that they would become major adversaries. The newly formed Parisians were trying to form a competitive team, while the Olympians were Ligue 1 contenders.
The rivalry began in earnest in 1986, when PSG won their first championship and Bernard Tapie bought OM. By the end of the decade, PSG were battling Tapie's Marseille for the 1988–89 title. PSG president Francis Borelli's accusations of match-fixing against Tapie and OM during that season contributed to their growing rivalry.
In the 1990s, tensions between the two teams escalated. French television channel Canal+ bought PSG in 1991 with the aim of breaking Marseille's hegemony, but later agreed with Tapie to emphasize the animosity between them as a way to promote the league. With equivalent financial backing, PSG and OM became the main contenders for the title. Both teams were less successful in the late 1990s and 2000s, but the rivalry remained strong. Since the 2010s, PSG have dominated the duel, and the significant investment from their Qatari owners has created a significant rift between the clubs.