Paris (AFP)

Between the Paris SG weakened by cases of new coronavirus, but which hopes Neymar, and Marseille full of ambitions, the "Clasico" of Ligue 1, in an almost empty Parc des Princes, is shrouded in many uncertainties, Sunday (9:00 p.m.).

PSG-OM was to be the match that kicked off the 2020-21 season for good, after two first days disrupted by the Champions League and the Covid-19 pandemic.

But today, the poster has lost its luster.

After a month of August rubbing shoulders with the stars, with two titles and a lost C1 final, the Parisians left their light suit in the locker room, the fault of the new coronavirus which put an untimely end to their state of grace.

At the beginning of September, seven executives of the workforce tested positive: Neymar, Angel di Maria, Keylor Navas, Leandro Paredes, Mauro Icardi, Marquinhos, and Kylian Mbappé, the backbone of a team that can no longer walk since then, as demonstrated by his defeat in Lens on Thursday (1-0).

If the first four, cured, find the group, Paris remains far from presenting its best face, not helped either by the unusual programming of the "Clasico", which had never been played so early in the Championship since 1979. Its runner-up to last season, Marseille, already prowling around the prey, a priori takeable.

"Paris slowed down a bit, it gave our supporters a little hope, admits OM coach André Villas-Boas. We want to win. It may be a chance, the right time for us . "

“The year or never?” Asks the daily La Provence on Sunday.

"OM believes in its star," abounds La Marseillaise, recalling that the team "had nothing to lose."

- Florenzi available -

The Marseillais, who successfully entered Brest (3-2) on August 30, have enough confidence to settle their big slate accumulated against the capital club: their last success against PSG dates back to November 2011. Since then , they lost 17 of their 20 encounters (three draws).

OM takes the opportunity to show that it has grown well since its last defeat in Paris (4-0, in October 2019), in accordance with the ambition of its management who wants to take a step forward this year in his development, with the objective of perpetuating in the Champions League, which he will meet again in October.

For Paris, the worries of the moment prevent it from projecting too much.

It is the "small" daily victories that satisfy him, such as the recruitment of Italian international defender Alessandro Florenzi, or the return to training of Neymar.

The presence of "Ney" could change everything, according to L'Equipe, which headlines: "Just an illusion?", Ensuring that the PSG remained the big favorite despite everything.

"First big test for a Paris under pressure", tempers the daily Le Parisien before this "Clasico" "undecided as it had not been since 2011."

"It's a question of whether (the returning players) start or end the game for us. If there is no risk, we will try," said coach Thomas Tuchel.

- Neymar "not 100%" -

"The only thing that is clear is that they will not be 100%, Villas-Boas echoed him. We know what we suffered with our players who had the coronavirus, it is hard."

If PSG is likely to be short physically, especially against a team that has been preparing all summer, it still has the spark of a shock like the "Clasico" to help it provide the extra effort .

"It is one of the most important games of the season. For me, as Titi, it is very important to me to play one, and for the team too," said defender Presnel Kimpembe.

On social networks, Dimitri Payet's roaring tweet at the time of the Parisians' C1 final defeat against Bayern (1-0) ignited fans on both camps, proving that there was still a special atmosphere around the match, sometimes very limited.

Saturday evening, the Ultras Paris Collective (CUP) published the photo of a banner deemed homophobic, hung on the Bir-Hakeim bridge, in front of the Eiffel Tower.

The Rouge Direct collective, which fights against homophobia in the football world, told AFP on Sunday that it was considering filing a complaint.

But at the Parc des Princes, subject to the restrictions of the government gauge, less than 3,600 spectators will be able to take place, with a shortfall of around 4 million euros for the club.

But a defeat could cost him much more.

© 2020 AFP