Messi in Marseille: Classic French rivalry has Argentine accent

Messi in Marseille: Classic French rivalry has Argentine accent

Yet if there is one place in Europe that can match it then it might be the Velodrome in Marseille, where fiery Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli now prowls the touchline while up to 65,000 supporters generate a spine-tingling atmosphere.

That can be the case for any game, but when Paris Saint-Germain come to town it is very special indeed.

They love their football in the French Mediterranean port city, but they always hated PSG, even before Qatar bought the capital club in 2011.

"Le Classique" -- as it is sometimes known -- is the biggest fixture in French football, and on Sunday it will have a distinctly Argentinian flavour.

This will be Sampaoli's first match against PSG as Marseille coach. In the away dugout will be his compatriot Mauricio Pochettino. In the away team will be Lionel Messi, getting his first taste of France's biggest grudge match.

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