PSG and OM dominated French football before Olympique Lyonnais disrupted their domestic supremacy in the early 2000s and remain the most followed French clubs internationally. Both clubs consistently rank among the highest in French attendances. Early clashes in the 1970s gave little indication of a major rivalry: PSG, a newly formed club, was still building competitiveness, while OM were established Ligue 1 contenders. The rivalry began in earnest in the 1980s, particularly after PSG won their first league title in 1986 and Marseille was acquired by businessman Bernard Tapie. By the end of the decade, the two clubs were competing closely for the Ligue 1 title, with tensions heightened by accusations of match-fixing and other controversies.
In the 1990s, the rivalry intensified. French media company Canal+ purchased PSG in 1991, partly to challenge Marseille's dominance, while media coverage helped promote the animosity between the clubs. With financial backing and growing media attention, PSG and OM became the main contenders for national honours. Although both teams were less successful in the 2000s, the rivalry remained strong. In the 2010s, PSG's significant investment from Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) allowed the club to dominate domestically, further intensifying the rivalry. Matches regularly draw large crowds, high television audiences, and require heightened security due to passionate fan support.
The rivalry has a female equivalent, featuring Paris Saint-Germain and OL Lyonnes (Lyon). Matches between the two sides are referred to as the women's Le Classique. By the end of the 2000s, French women's football was dominated by Lyon, which won a record number of Première Ligue and UEFA Women's Champions League titles. PSG first faced Lyon in 1994, but it was not until the club's acquisition by QSI in 2012 that the two sides emerged as genuine rivals, consistently competing for league honours.
History
Origins and early encounters
Josip Skoblar scored twice for OM in the inaugural match.
PSG was founded in 1970 and, during their early years, did not operate at the same level as OM, one of the traditional powerhouses of French football. Established in 1899, Marseille had competed regularly for trophies and, for much of their history, were more focused on rivalries with clubs such as Saint-Étienne or Bordeaux than on matches against the newly formed Parisian side.[4] Today, the rivalry is considered the greatest in French football and one of the most significant in European club football.[5][6] PSG and OM are the most successful clubs in France and the only French sides to have won major European trophies. Before the emergence of Olympique Lyonnais in the early 2000s, they were the undisputed leading teams in the country and remain the two most popular French clubs.[2][7][8] Both sides routinely top attendance charts each season.[2]
Like all great football rivalries, the Classique carries historical, cultural, and social significance beyond the sport itself. In France, it is often framed as a contest between the nation's two greatest cities: Paris versus Marseille, the capital versus the province, north versus south, the centre of political power versus the working class, and the club of the elite versus the club of the people.[2][7][9] Ironically, PSG were originally founded as a team owned by their supporters, while OM was established by a group of aristocratic enthusiasts.[10][11] The foundations of a fierce rivalry were therefore present from the outset.[4]
The first meeting between the clubs took place on 12 December 1971 at the Stade Vélodrome, where Marseille secured a 4–2 victory. Josip Skoblar scored twice, while Bernard Bosquier and Didier Couécou also found the net, with Bosquier registering the first goal in the history of the Classique. Michel Prost scored both goals for PSG.[12][13] The rivalry intensified in 1975 during the Coupe de France quarter-finals. On 9 May, Marseille drew 2–2 at home after leading by two goals, with François M'Pelé scoring twice for PSG. The result sparked violent incidents among Marseille supporters after the final whistle.[14] In the return leg on 13 May, PSG claimed their first-ever victory over Marseille with a 2–0 home win at the Parc des Princes, thanks to goals from Louis Floch and Jacques Laposte. At the end of the match, Marseille players Caju and Jairzinho assaulted the referee, leading to suspensions that ended their careers at the club.[15][16]
Several notable encounters followed in the late 1970s. On 8 January 1978, after nine unsuccessful attempts (seven defeats and two draws), PSG finally defeated Marseille in the league. Although Boubacar Sarr opened the scoring for OM from the penalty spot, PSG responded decisively, routing their opponents 5–1. François M’Pelé scored twice, with additional goals from François Brisson, Mustapha Dahleb, and an own goal by Marius Trésor.[13] The following year, on 7 April 1979, PSG defeated Marseille 4–3 in a match that remains the highest-scoring in the fixture's history, with Carlos Bianchi scoring the decisive goal.[15] Having lost every previous visit to the south since their inaugural meeting in 1971, the Parisians secured their first away victory on 8 December 1979, defeating Marseille 2–0 at the Stade Vélodrome with goals from Boubacar Sarr and Jean-François Beltramini, in a season that ended with Marseille's relegation.[17]
Marseille's golden era
The year 1986 marked the true beginning of the rivalry. PSG won their first league title, while French businessman Bernard Tapie acquired OM. Tapie immediately invested heavily in star players such as Chris Waddle, Abedi Pelé, Jean-Pierre Papin, Basile Boli, Enzo Francescoli, Eric Cantona, Didier Deschamps, and Marcel Desailly, transforming Marseille into a dominant force in French football.[4][7][9] Later that year, on 28 November 1986, OM recorded their largest victory over PSG, a 4–0 win at the Stade Vélodrome, with Papin scoring the final goal.[18] The rivalry intensified further on 21 May 1988, when PSG secured a 2–1 away victory over Marseille, through goals from Safet Sušić and a late strike by Gabriel Calderón, a result that denied OM qualification for European competition. The match was overshadowed by controversy after PSG defender Michel Bibard mimicked the referee's whistle, causing Papin to halt a clear scoring opportunity. At the final whistle, Tapie reportedly confronted the referee, reportedly threatening that he would not guarantee his safety upon leaving the stadium.[19]
The following season culminated on 5 May 1989 with a decisive title clash at the Stade Vélodrome. In the buildup, Bernard Tapie and his PSG counterpart Francis Borelli heightened tensions by exchanging barbs in the media. With the match goalless and league leaders PSG edging closer to a second league title, the contest appeared destined for a draw. However, in stoppage time, Franck Sauzée unleashed a 25-yard strike past goalkeeper Joël Bats to secure a 1–0 victory. The result propelled Marseille to the top of the standings, a position they maintained to claim their first French championship in 17 years.[20][21][22]
PSG became more competitive after being acquired by French media company Canal+ in 1991. The takeover was intended to revive interest in a Ligue 1 increasingly dominated by Marseille and to build a squad capable of challenging Tapie's side. Tapie actively encouraged Canal+ to elevate the rivalry, and with substantial financial backing, PSG recruited high-profile players such as David Ginola, Youri Djorkaeff, George Weah, and Raí.[2][9][20] Many observers regard Marseille (1989–1994) and PSG (1993–1998) as two of the strongest teams in French football history.[23][24]
In the 1990s, the rivalry was characterized by heightened media scrutiny and an increase in both on- and off-field violence, including a rise in incidents involving supporters.[2][4] One of the most infamous encounters took place on 18 December 1992 at the Parc des Princes. Before the match, PSG manager Artur Jorge declared that his team would "crush" Marseille, while David Ginola promised "war"—comments that Bernard Tapie reportedly displayed in OM's dressing room to motivate his players. Later dubbed the "Butchery of 1992," the match is remembered less for Marseille's 1–0 victory, courtesy of an Alen Bokšić goal, than for the roughly fifty fouls called and the brutal tackles by OM's Éric Di Meco and PSG's Patrick Colleter.[13] In the return match, on 29 May 1993, Marseille defeated PSG 3–1 in another title-deciding match, coming from behind to seal the win with a team move finished by a phenomenal header from Basile Boli.[21][22]
Between 1989 and 1993, Marseille won four consecutive Ligue 1 championships and lifted the 1992–93 UEFA Champions League. OM supporters continue to commemorate this European triumph with the motto "Forever first."[9][20][25] However, this period of success was also overshadowed by allegations of corruption involving Marseille, raised by PSG, Monaco, and other clubs. These suspicions were confirmed after the 1992–93 season, when Tapie and OM were found guilty in the French football bribery scandal. The French Football Federation stripped Marseille of the title, and the club was administratively relegated to Ligue 2 in 1994.[26][27]
The Big Eight: PSG's rise
Marseille have since accused Parisian elites of conspiring to make PSG the dominant French club, a dynamic FIFA described as a clash between "the chosen ones of French football (the politically favored PSG) and their enfants terribles (the rebel OM)."[28][29] During the 1990s, PSG won several trophies, including the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, becoming the second French club to claim a major European title after OM.[30] Marseille quickly returned to the top flight in 1996 after two seasons in Ligue 2, although their new owner was less willing to invest than Bernard Tapie had been. At the same time, Canal+ gradually reduced its financial commitment to PSG. Despite these changes, the rivalry remained intense. Between September 1990 and February 2000, OM lost only twice to their northern rivals, before the balance of power shifted in the early 2000s, when PSG went on an eight-match winning streak between 2002 and 2004.[4][9]
Ronaldinho terrorized Marseille defenders during the early 2000s.
On 8 November 1997, PSG were defeated 2–1 at the Parc des Princes following a controversial penalty converted by Laurent Blanc, with Paris alleging that Fabrizio Ravanelli had simulated the foul. PSG responded on 4 May 1999, securing their first league victory over Marseille since April 1990. Although PSG had little to play for in the standings, they were determined to prevent Marseille from winning the championship. Late goals from Marco Simone and Bruno Rodriguez gave PSG a 2–1 win, with Simone celebrating his equalizer by displaying a Batman tattoo to the Marseille supporters. In the final round, PSG lost to Bordeaux, allowing the Girondins to claim the league title. The following season, on 15 February 2000, Marseille reasserted themselves with a 4–1 home victory in a match that featured red cards, on-field confrontations between former PSG teammates Laurent Leroy and Jérôme Leroy, and Florian Maurice celebrating by throwing his shoe toward the OM supporters.[13][15][31]
PSG's winning run began on 26 October 2002, when Ronaldinho inspired a 3–0 victory at the Parc des Princes, scoring from a free kick, converting a penalty, and assisting the third goal. Manager Luis Fernandez celebrated the opener with an improvised samba.[32][33] The streak continued on 9 March 2003, as PSG recorded another 3–0 win, their first at the Stade Vélodrome since May 1988. Jérôme Leroy opened the scoring with a 25-yard strike, while Ronaldinho added a goal and an assist following two solo runs from his own half.[17][18][21]
The Parisians secured a second consecutive victory at the Vélodrome for the first time in their history on 30 November 2003, when Fabrice Fiorèse scored in stoppage time and celebrated by covering his ears in front of the Marseille supporters. Nine months later, Fiorèse joined OM, describing the move as "a dream come true."[34][35] The sequence of wins continued on 25 April 2004, when Pauleta starred in a 2–1 victory, scoring twice, including a chip from a tight angle over Fabien Barthez that is widely regarded as one of the rivalry’s finest goals.[15][36]
Tensions escalated on 7 November 2004, when former PSG players Frédéric Déhu and Fabrice Fiorèse returned to the Parc des Princes with Marseille. PSG defender Sylvain Armand was sent off after just twenty minutes for a violent tackle on Fiorèse, who was also targeted by projectiles from the crowd and required police protection. Despite being a man down for most of the match, PSG secured a 2–1 victory thanks to goals from Pauleta and Édouard Cissé.[33][37][38] Three days later, on 10 November 2004, the teams faced off again in the Coupe de la Ligue. PSG, fielding several substitutes, overcame a two-goal deficit as Branko Bošković scored twice to equalize, and Bernard Mendy completed a dramatic last-minute winner after dribbling past goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. The 3–2 comeback marked PSG's eighth consecutive victory over Marseille, a streak celebrated by Parisian supporters as "The Big Eight."[39]
Marseille ended PSG's winning run on 16 October 2005, recording their first victory in the fixture since April 2002, at the beginning of a period in which OM largely dominated the rivalry between 2005 and 2011. Lorik Cana, who had joined Marseille directly from PSG a few months earlier, scored the only goal of the match. Two hours before kick-off, an ammonia-like smell reportedly permeated the PSG dressing room, forcing the visitors to relocate to another changing room beneath the home supporters. Allegations also emerged that OM had arranged for French adult film actress Clara Morgane to walk past the PSG dressing room in an attempt to distract the players. PSG manager Laurent Fournier publicly criticized the incidents, while OM president Pape Diouf responded that his opponents needed to "learn to accept defeat."[40][41][42]
Amid growing hostility between supporters, visiting allocations were reduced for the return match on 5 March 2006, when PSG hosted Marseille at the Parc des Princes. In protest, Diouf sent Marseille's reserve and youth players to the fixture, a side later nicknamed "The Boys" by OM supporters. The team secured a 0–0 draw and received a celebratory welcome upon their return to Marseille.[13][15][31] A few weeks later, on 29 April 2006, PSG responded by defeating Marseille's first team 2–1 in the 2006 Coupe de France final, the first time the clubs had met in a domestic cup final. Bonaventure Kalou opened the scoring early, and Vikash Dhorasoo doubled the lead with a 25-yard strike before Toifilou Maoulida reduced the deficit. PSG held on to claim the trophy.[13][43]
After four consecutive league seasons without an away win at Marseille, PSG recorded a 4–2 victory at the Stade Vélodrome on 26 October 2008, scoring four goals there for the first time in their history. OM had entered the match unbeaten in the league, but Guillaume Hoarau scored twice to secure the win, strengthening PSG's position in the title race and preventing Marseille from moving to the top of the table.[17] In the return fixture on 15 March 2009 at the Parc des Princes, PSG could have moved into first place with a victory. Instead, Marseille prevailed 3–1. Boudewijn Zenden opened the scoring—falling into an advertising hoarding during his celebration—before Ludovic Giuly equalized just before half-time. Zoumana Camara's second-half dismissal proved decisive, and goals from Bakari Koné and Lorik Cana lifted Marseille above PSG in the standings and effectively ended the Parisian title challenge.[44]
Originally scheduled for October 2009, the match was postponed after PSG players Ludovic Giuly, Mamadou Sakho and Jérémy Clément were diagnosed with H1N1 influenza during the swine flu pandemic, leading to the entire Paris squad being quarantined at their hotel in Marseille. When the match was eventually played on 20 November 2009, OM secured a 1–0 victory at the Stade Vélodrome, with former PSG defender Gabriel Heinze scoring the only goal against his former club.[37][45] The return fixture on 28 February 2010 was overshadowed by clashes between rival PSG ultra factions, which resulted in the death of one supporter and prompted the club to dissolve its main supporter groups. On the pitch, goals from Hatem Ben Arfa, Lucho González and Benoît Cheyrou gave OM a 3–0 victory at the Parc des Princes, their largest win at the ground, as they went on to win Ligue 1 that season.[13][46]
Parisian supremacy
Zlatan Ibrahimović scores from the penalty spot against Marseille in February 2013.
Ligue 1 champions Marseille faced Coupe de France winners PSG in the 2010 Trophée des Champions on 28 July 2010. The match ended 0–0 after regular time and was decided by a penalty shootout. OM goalkeeper Steve Mandanda saved attempts from Peguy Luyindula and Ludovic Giuly, while PSG midfielder Édouard Cissé converted the decisive spot-kick, securing Marseille's first victory over Paris in a cup final.[47][48]
Later that year, on 7 November 2010, PSG recorded their first home victory over OM since November 2004. Nenê played a key role throughout the match. Mevlüt Erdinç opened the scoring after Mandanda failed to hold a shot from the Brazilian, and Guillaume Hoarau doubled the lead soon after, finishing through the goalkeeper's legs following a chipped pass from Nenê. Lucho González reduced the deficit, but Marseille were unable to find an equalizer at the Parc des Princes.[49]
Freshly acquired by the government-operated Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), PSG arrived at Marseille as league leaders, featuring ambitious signings such as Javier Pastore, Blaise Matuidi and Jérémy Ménez. However, they were unable to assert themselves, and Marseille outplayed them at the Stade Vélodrome on 27 November 2011. Goals from Loïc Rémy and André Ayew both with headers, as well as a curling strike from Morgan Amalfitano, secured a comprehensive 3–0 victory for OM.[13][21][22][50]
On 7 October 2012, the sides met at the Stade Vélodrome, occupying first and second place for the first time since January 1994. André-Pierre Gignac opened the scoring for Marseille and later added a second to secure a 2–2 draw, after Zlatan Ibrahimović had temporarily put PSG ahead with a back-heeled volley and a 25-yard free kick.[3][22] More than two years later, on 5 April 2015, PSG visited Marseille as reigning champions of the previous two Ligue 1 seasons, featuring key players such as Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta, Ibrahimović, and Edinson Cavani. Second-placed OM struck first through Gignac, and although Blaise Matuidi quickly equalized with a top-corner strike, Gignac restored Marseille's lead. In the second half, Paris drew level again through Marquinhos before an own goal from Jérémy Morel handed PSG a 3–2 victory, keeping them on course for the league title.[50]
On 21 May 2016, ten years after their first meeting at this stage, PSG and Marseille faced each other again in the 2016 Coupe de France final at the Stade de France. PSG was aiming to complete a second consecutive domestic treble, while Marseille sought to salvage a disappointing season after finishing 13th in Ligue 1. As in 2006, PSG lifted the trophy following a 4–2 victory. Although Marseille held firm until half-time at 1–1, they were unable to contain Zlatan Ibrahimović, who scored twice and provided an assist in his final appearance for the club. With eleven goals in Le Classique, the Swedish striker remains the fixture's all-time leading scorer. The win also marked PSG's tenth consecutive victory against Marseille.[13][51]
Amid PSG's dominance in the Classique during the 2010s, which extended to a record 20 consecutive matches without defeat, the club recorded its largest victory at the Stade Vélodrome on 26 February 2017. Goals from Marquinhos, Edinson Cavani, Lucas Moura, Julian Draxler, and Blaise Matuidi secured PSG's second 5–1 triumph over Marseille, following a home victory by the same scoreline in January 1978. The match also marked the first time PSG scored five goals at the Vélodrome, surpassing the four goals they had netted there in October 2008.[17][18][22]
Battle of Paris
Neymar was a key figure in the rivalry during the 2020s.
Less than a year after their heavy home defeat, OM delivered a markedly different performance on 22 October 2017. The match marked Neymar's first Classique appearance, and the Brazilian forward was closely monitored by the Stade Vélodrome crowd. In one of the fixture's most dramatic encounters, Neymar played a central role, first by scoring to equalize Luiz Gustavo's 30-yard opener and later receiving a red card for an altercation, reducing PSG to ten men. Ten minutes from the final whistle, Florian Thauvin restored Marseille's lead, but Edinson Cavani scored a last-minute free kick that silenced the stadium, securing a 2–2 draw and denying the home side a victory.[22][50]
A year later, on 28 October 2018, with Edinson Cavani sidelined, Kylian Mbappé was initially benched by PSG manager Thomas Tuchel after arriving late to a team meeting. Despite this, Mbappé became the decisive player of the match. In a still-uncertain Classique at the hour mark, he made an immediate impact by scoring following a superb individual run just three minutes after coming on, marking his first goal at the Stade Vélodrome. Late in the match, Marseille were unable to equalize due to a foul simulation from Marquinhos, and Julian Draxler secured the 2–0 victory for PSG in stoppage time, capitalizing on a misdirected shot from Neymar as Marseille pressed for a comeback. Draxler celebrated by cupping his ears to the home fans.[22][52]
On 27 October 2019, PSG hosted Marseille at the Parc des Princes, where a banner from the home supporters set the tone for the match, reading: "We have been hammering you for eight years and it’s not over." Mauro Icardi and Kylian Mbappé each scored twice in the first half as PSG secured a 4–0 victory. This match marked PSG's twentieth and final unbeaten fixture against OM, a run in which the Parisians won seventeen times—including ten consecutive victories—and drew the remaining three encounters.[22][53] The second-leg Classique between Marseille and PSG, scheduled for 22 March 2020 at the Stade Vélodrome, was never played, marking the first time a match in the rivalry was cancelled. On 30 April 2020, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) awarded the 2019–20 Ligue 1 title to PSG following the cancellation of the season by the French government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[54]
Following years of uncontested Parisian supremacy, the rivalry was reignited shortly after PSG's defeat in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final. Ahead of the Classique on 13 September 2020, Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet mocked PSG on social media, pointing out that OM remained the only French club to have won the competition.[55] On the pitch, Florian Thauvin scored the only goal of the match, volleying in Payet's free kick to secure Marseille's first victory over PSG since November 2011.[56] The encounter descended into chaos in added time, when a mass brawl led to five red cards. Neymar, Leandro Paredes, and Layvin Kurzawa were dismissed for PSG, while Darío Benedetto and Jordan Amavi were sent off for Marseille. In the aftermath, Neymar accused Álvaro of making a racist remark towards him, an allegation the Spanish defender denied.[55][56][57] Neymar was in turn accused of making homophobic and racist comments towards Álvaro and Hiroki Sakai; however, the LFP took no disciplinary action due to insufficient evidence.[57][58][59] Sakai later publicly cleared Neymar of any wrongdoing.[60] PSG winger Ángel Di María received a four-match ban for spitting at Álvaro.[61] The heated encounter was subsequently dubbed the "Battle of Paris" by the media.[62]
Record win for PSG
PSG fans mocked OM during their record 5–0 victory in February 2026.
PSG gained revenge in the 2020 Trophée des Champions on 13 January 2021, defeating Marseille 2–1. Mauro Icardi put PSG ahead six minutes before half-time. During the second half, Neymar was repeatedly fouled by Álvaro, but the Brazilian ultimately had the final say by converting the decisive penalty. Dimitri Payet reduced the deficit with one minute remaining; however, PSG held on to secure the title. After the match, Neymar mocked both Álvaro and Payet on social media.[57][63]
Marseille returned to winning ways at the Stade Vélodrome on 8 February 2023, reaching the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France with a 2–1 victory. Alexis Sánchez converted a penalty conceded by Sergio Ramos to give the hosts the lead. Ramos later equalized with a header just before half-time, but ten minutes into the second half Ruslan Malinovskyi restored OM's advantage with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. The victory marked Marseille's first Coupe de France triumph over PSG since April 1991, nearly 32 years after their 2–0 win at the Parc des Princes. It was also their first cup win against PSG at the Vélodrome and their first home victory in the Classique since November 2011.[50][64] PSG responded emphatically on 26 February 2023 with a 3–0 league victory at the Vélodrome, ending Marseille's title hopes. Lionel Messi scored his first and only goal in the Classique, while Kylian Mbappé's brace made him PSG's all-time leading scorer.[65]
Two years later, on 22 September 2025, Marseille ended another negative run on home soil. Originally scheduled for the previous day, the match was postponed due to heavy rainfall. Despite PSG seeking to avoid a clash with the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, OM insisted that the fixture be played within 24 hours of the initial postponement in accordance with league regulations and threatened legal action if it was not. While PSG were being named the world's best team in Paris, an own goal by Marquinhos, following an error by goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, secured OM's first home league victory over their rivals since November 2011.[66][67]
The Olympians were again the better side in the 2025 Trophée des Champions on 8 January 2026, but it was PSG who ultimately lifted the trophy. An early lob from Ousmane Dembélé gave PSG the advantage, and they appeared on course for victory. Marseille mounted a late comeback, moving ahead through a Mason Greenwood penalty and an own goal by Willian Pacho. However, in the closing seconds, Gonçalo Ramos equalized to force a penalty shootout, in which PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier saved two spot-kicks as Paris prevailed 4–1.[68] A month later, on 8 February 2026, PSG defeated Marseille 5–0 at the Parc des Princes. Dembélé scored twice, while an own goal by Facundo Medina made it 3–0 before substitutes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang-in added further goals. The result marked the largest margin of victory in the history of the fixture and avenged PSG's defeat at the Vélodrome in September.[69]
Supporters
Violent incidents
9 May 1975. Marseille supporters pelted the PSG team bus with stones as it departed the Stade Vélodrome.[14]
29 May 1993. Clashes between both sets of supporters at the Stade Vélodrome left fourteen people injured. The incidents reportedly began after Marseille fans were targeted with a dozen flares thrown by PSG supporters, who also set fire to several OM shirts during the match.[50]
11 April 1995. Following clashes between fans of both teams, 146 people were arrested and nine police officers were hospitalized.[2]
4 May 1999. The match at the Parc des Princes began with clashes between the two sets of supporters on the pitch before kick-off.[31]
13 October 2000. Geoffrey Dilly, an 18-year-old Marseille supporter, was struck by a seat thrown from the PSG section and left paralyzed for life.[19]
7 November 2004. PSG supporters pelted the Marseille team bus with stones upon its arrival at the Parc des Princes, resulting in minor injuries to OM manager José Anigo.[19]
4 February 2007. Marseille supporters threw stones at the PSG team bus, as well as at buses transporting Parisian fans, upon their arrival at the Stade Vélodrome.[70]
15 March 2009. During the match, PSG supporters threw over 60 flares, including four rockets directed toward the visiting stands, one of which caused neck burns to a Marseille fan.[71]
26 October 2009. Amid the 2009 swine flu pandemic, three PSG players were diagnosed with H1N1 influenza and the match was postponed just hours before its scheduled kick-off. Around 2,000 Parisian supporters had already arrived in Marseille, and clashes erupted between rival groups. A dozen individuals were arrested by CRS riot police, and ten people were injured, including one who required leg surgery after being struck by a car.[45]
28 February 2010. Clashes between rival PSG ultra factions led to the death of one supporter and prompted the club to disband its main supporter groups.[13]
5 April 2015. Before kick-off near the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille fans threw stones and other objects at the PSG team bus. PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimović was reportedly nearly struck by a golf ball that pierced the window of manager Laurent Blanc's vehicle. Police clashed with OM supporters who were blocking a nearby roundabout, using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Eight officers sustained minor injuries, and eight Marseille fans were arrested.[72]
21 May 2016. Before the 2016 Coupe de France final at the Stade de France, clashes broke out between PSG and OM supporters. Paris won the match 4–2, and after the final whistle, angry Marseille fans ignited two flares in the stands and set fire to several seats. Thirty people were arrested, though no injuries were reported.[73]
28 February 2018. Upon returning to the Parc des Princes for the first time since 2014, Marseille fans caused significant damage to the stadium. They tore out at least 137 seats from the away stand, some of which were moved to the side stands, and also vandalized the restrooms.[74]
18 August 2020. Following PSG's UEFA Champions League semi-final victory against RB Leipzig, fans of both clubs clashed in Marseille. A man was arrested for assaulting a person wearing a PSG shirt, while hundreds of OM supporters chanted anti-Paris slogans and set off firecrackers.[55][75]
Despite the intensity of the rivalry, as many as 52 players have represented both clubs.[76] Only two managers, Lucien Leduc and Tomislav Ivić, have coached both teams. Transfers between PSG and Marseille began attracting significant attention in the early 1990s, when the clubs emerged as arch-rivals. Jocelyn Angloma became the first high-profile player to cross the divide, leaving PSG in 1990 in exchange for Marseille's Bernard Pardo, Bruno Germain, and Laurent Fournier.[88] The next major wave occurred in 2000, when PSG signed Peter Luccin and Stéphane Dalmat from OM, strengthening their squad ahead of the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League; these remain the two most expensive transfers between the two sides.[89][90][91]
OM responded by signing PSG captain Frédéric Déhu and popular players Fabrice Fiorèse, Lorik Cana, and Modeste M'bami.[38][40][92] Déhu's free transfer to Marseille was announced just days before the 2004 Coupe de France final; he was jeered by PSG supporters throughout the match and left the pitch in tears after lifting the trophy.[37] Fiorèse joined shortly afterward, stating that OM had always been his dream club.[34] Cana signed for Marseille in 2005, describing it as "the club of my heart," while M'Bami moved in 2006 despite previously asserting he would never play for OM.[37][40][89][92] Upon returning to the Parc des Princes, all four players were jeered by PSG fans, who displayed banners reading: "We have Jesus (alongside a portrait of PSG defender Mario Yepes), you have Judas (Fiorèse)" and "Déhu, Fiorèse, Cana, M'Bami, the list of whores keeps growing."[38][93]
PSG found solace in Peguy Luyindula, who transferred from OM in 2007, describing the move as the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. To date, this remains the last direct transfer between the two clubs.[91][94] Similarly, Gabriel Heinze, idolized in Paris, had declared in 2005 that he loved PSG and would only play for them if he returned to France. However, in 2009, Heinze ultimately signed for Marseille at the last minute. PSG supporters greeted his return to the Parc des Princes with insults, whistles, and hostile banners.[37][40][89]
The transfer rivalry between PSG and OM has since subsided, with Qatar-backed PSG able to sign virtually any player worldwide, while Marseille have generally focused on more modest targets.[91] Nonetheless, hostility toward certain players has persisted. In March 2025, former PSG Academy graduate and first-team player Adrien Rabiot returned to the Parc des Princes as Marseille captain. PSG ultras directed heavy abuse at him, as well as his mother and agent, Véronique Rabiot, displaying a banner at the start of the second half that read: "Loyalty for men, betrayal for whores. Like father, like son. Véro, who's his real father? Déhu, Fiorèse, Cana or Heinze?"[95]
Players of PSG and Lyon walk onto the pitch ahead of their 2014 encounter.
The women's rivalry mirrors the prominence of the men's version. Women's Le Classique is contested between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and OL Lyonnes (Lyon), the two most successful clubs in French women's football. First played in 1994, the fixture has grown in prominence to become one of the marquee matchups in the Première Ligue, France's top women's league. Over the years, the rivalry has featured closely contested league games, cup finals, and European encounters, drawing increased attention as both clubs have competed for national and continental honours.[96][97]
By the end of the 2000s, Lyon had established overwhelming dominance in French and European women's football. PSG gradually emerged as a credible challenger in the 2010s following its acquisition by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2012. From the mid-2010s onward, the two sides regularly finished in the top two positions of the Première Ligue and faced each other repeatedly in the Coupe de France Féminine and the UEFA Women's Champions League. Although Lyon largely maintained the upper hand, PSG recorded notable milestones, including their first league victory over Lyon in 2014 and a landmark European success in 2015. Intense competition for elite players in the transfer market has further heightened tensions between two of the best-resourced clubs in women's football.[96][97]
Public interest in the fixture grew steadily, leading it to be widely known as the women's Le Classique or Le Classico. A key turning point occurred in 2018, when PSG won their first trophy against Lyon by lifting the Coupe de France, symbolizing a narrowing of the competitive gap despite Lyon's continued domestic and European dominance. The rivalry intensified through a series of high-profile encounters in the 2020s, notably PSG ending Lyon's 80-match unbeaten league run and securing their first Première Ligue title in 2021.[96][97] Lyon, however, retained the upper hand in decisive Champions League knockout ties and domestic finals between 2022 and 2025.[98][99][100]
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Steve Mandanda
Marquinhos
Marco Verratti
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Edinson Cavani
Pauleta
Ángel Di María
Lorik Cana
Modeste M'bami
