Bruno Genesio Faces Tough Choices Ahead of Le Classique

Bruno Genesio walks into Le Classique with a thin deck and no room to bluff.

Olympique de Marseille arrive at Sunday night’s showdown with Paris Saint-Germain on a four-game losing streak in all competitions, the mood fragile and the options limited. The squad is stretched, the margins are tight, and any bold reshuffle risks destabilising what little continuity remains.

Two absences are non-negotiable. Geoffrey Kondogbia and Tochukwu Nnadi are still out, stripping OM of muscle and balance in midfield. That reality has forced Genesio to lean on a relatively settled Ligue 1 side in recent weeks, even as results have turned against him.

This time, though, one significant tweak is on the table.

Angel Gomes, back from his loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers but short of rhythm and influence, could be the man to make way. The England international has struggled to ignite Marseille’s attacking play since his return in the summer, and with PSG looming, Genesio may decide he can no longer wait for form to arrive.

If Gomes drops out, the dominoes fall quickly. Amine Harit would be freed to operate in a central role, where his ability to carry the ball and link attacks can shape the game rather than flicker on the fringes. That move would then open a slot on the right flank for Keylian Abdallah, whose direct running and energy offer a different kind of threat in wide areas.

It’s not a revolution. It’s a nudge. But in a Classique, the smallest adjustment can tilt the balance.

Expected Lineup

Barring late surprises, Marseille are expected to line up against PSG with:

• Jeffrey De Lange in goal;
• a back four of Emerson, Nayef Aguerd, CJ Egan-Riley and Timothy Weah;
• a midfield pairing of Himad Abdelli and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg;
• Igor Paixao, Amine Harit and Keylian Abdallah supporting Amine Gouiri in attack.

A stretched squad, a bruising run of defeats, and a trip to face the champions. Genesio doesn’t have many cards left to play. The question is whether this one change can spark a response in the biggest fixture of Marseille’s season.