This March 22 should have been a long Sunday of reunion between two of the best enemies on the football planet. Five months after the success (4-0) of Thomas Tuchel's men at the Parc des Princes, PSG was to go to the Vélodrome this evening for the 21st consecutive game, in all competitions, without setbacks against OM. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, France is confined, sport under cover and everyone's concerns, far from football and this Ligue 1 classic.
To change their minds, despite everything, and while waiting to attend the 98th Clasico in history, Le Parisien decided to open the memory box and take out five of the most memorable events in history from the capital club. The debates were lively, the choice difficult since questionable in the face of so much wealth. But here is our Top 5 least classic clasicos.
1. Ronaldinho makes Marseille waltz (OM-PSG, March 9, 2003, 0-3)
He dances Ronnie, he dances, he loves it when it rocks. So this Sunday, March 9, 2003, the Brazilian will have a blast. OM, which PSG has already beaten twice since the start of the season (3-0 on the outward journey and 2-1 ap in the Coupe de France), however, looks much better in its title hunter costume. Stuck in the soft belly of the championship, Paris arrives, him, with his doubts and weighted with the weight of fifteen years of failure at the Vélodrome. A pressure that will put the troops of Luis Fernandez in weightlessness.
In front of an audience of 56,000 spectators of the most hostile, Leroy, who opens the scoring, reigns on the Velodrome, Ronaldinho dances with the Olympians and almost between them overthrows OM in an almost lunar atmosphere. The story will remember the solo of Ronnie (who is currently in prison in Paraguay), his first goal of a stung ball then this second, after a fantastic ride, that Leroy "will chip" him by throwing himself on the line to push the ball into the back of the net.
Author of the opening, it is therefore to him that will return the double of the evening. A detail since on the evening of this 30th day, most of it is elsewhere. This March 9, 2003, Paris imposed itself at the Vélodrome. A first since 1988.
2. Pauleta still puts Barthez to death (PSG-OM, November 7, 2004, 2-1)
Almost seven months have passed since the last Clasico. On the one hand, as on the other, no one forgot the Parisian victory (2-1), the double of Pauleta and especially this fantastic lob that the Portuguese lodged under the bar of Barthez from the “corner line " Three days before going to the Vélodrome in the 1/16 round of the Coupe de la Ligue (victory 2-3), Paris does not intend to let OM take their revenge and reserves a muscular welcome for Fabrice Fiorèse, who has joined the ranks on the last day of the summer transfer window.
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Sylvain Armand pays the costs quickly since his tackle leaning on his former partner earned him to be expelled from the 20th minute of play. Outnumbered for more than an hour, Paris still sees Pauleta fining Barthez a wrapped striking jewel. And if, as seven months earlier, Battles will reduce the brand, Edouard Cissé will finally offer PSG a 7th consecutive success against OM with a magnificent strike from the left in the skylight.
3. A demonstration and records (OM-PSG, February 26, 2017, 1-5)
If the rivalry between the two clubs still exists, the difference in level between the two teams makes the clashes less uncertain. The proof, in this February 26, 2017, these are some records, rather unpleasant to the place of his opponent that the club of the capital will go to burn on the lawn of the Velodrome. In front of the strongest assistant in the history of Marseille, 65,252 spectators, the training of Unai Emery is on display. Marquinhos, Cavani, Lucas, Draxler and Matuidi offer their greatest success in Paris in a Clasico away (1-5). A figure is enough to understand that a world then separates the two rivals: OM had not lost a home match by more than 3 goals apart since August 23, 1953.
4. Cavani to silence the Velodrome (OM-PSG, October 22, 2017, 2-2)
Eight months have passed since the biggest card conceded by OM at home (1-5). The Olympian club is taking its revenge. Finally. A handful of minutes remain to play this October 22, 2017. Thanks to Luis Gustavo and Thauvin, Marseille leads 2-1. Neymar, who had equalized for PSG, has just returned to the locker room for a bad move on Ocampos. OM, which has not beaten Paris since November 2011, is about to put an end to six years of frustration.
The excitement is all the stronger among the Olympians since Paris has been unbeaten since the start of the season, invincible even since April of the previous exercise. But for the 15th consecutive time, Marseille will miss its coup. The fault of this devil of Cavani who will place a masterful free kick under the bar (he will even touch it) of Mandanda. A horror for Marseille. Happiness for Paris who will take the opportunity to keep their lead at the top of the ranking.
5. A Zlatalonnade and a double (OM-PSG, October 7, 2012, 2-2)
The poster is more than ever a shock at the top. For the first time in 19 years, PSG and OM meet from the top of their 1st and 2nd places in the ranking. The appointment of this October 7, 2012 is all the more up to par, as he sees the two attackers, André-Pierre Gignac and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, play a match in the match. If the Marseillais will open the mark with the right foot and the closing of the head, it is the Swedish giant who will be remembered for having marked his territory at the Vélodrome. Ibra will thus sign a legendary goal by taking a corner from a heel-missile before scoring, just two minutes later, an equally powerful free kick which will leave Mandanda helpless.
