TFT Issue 3318!

Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique de Marseille

KO: 20:00 (UK time)

With Covid-19 having pretty much forced the French FA to play this Super Cup final in a logical location, I think we may see a more ‘normal’ encounter than the usual tripe we bear witness to, which is generally played in boiling hot locations for the sake of extra money. This game will be played at the Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, and the French FA have even ensured that its residents, Racing Club Lens, are away for the next couple of matches as to not have any complaints about the state of the pitch. Clever buggers!

Now, my sole prerequisite for this tip is that Neymar does not start. He’s been named in the squad but, after his injury, I’m hoping he won’t be fit enough to start. I’ve had enough of the Brazilian now, you see. Still a wonderfully gifted footballer, but one that contributes nothing to this team now. It could be a case of him not wanting to play for Tuchel, or having had enough of being in Paris, but whatever the case may be, he’s been more of a hindrance than a help this season. Having all the tricks in the world aren’t of any use if you have to force them out, you know? He doesn’t provide many assists, he doesn’t score many goals, and he even looks less confident in front of goal now. I genuinely don’t know what his role actually is any longer. That could change under Pochettino but until I see proof of it, I want him out of this squad because he just slows everything down and is wholly predictable.

I much prefer the likes of Kean. It makes me laugh to remember when Everton signed him from Juventus, where he played (and impressed!) as a striker, before playing him on the wing. Paris Saint-Germain have since brought him in, and got a lot out of him after including him as part of an attacking trident. He’s looked marvellous, and has honestly embarrassed Neymar with his work ethic and desire to be on the same page as his teammates. With him, Icardi (who returned from injury in the 3-0 win against Stade Brestois), and world-class Mbappe, I think Paris Saint-Germain have a lethal attack – and far more unpredictable plus harder to defend than with Neymar.

On top of that, there’s di Maria to consider. He’s a brilliant player but only when it suits him as he’s a very petulant son of a bitch. Still, there’s little that Argentinians like more than other Argentinians so I think that Pochettino’s arrival will do him some good too. I’m not so sure about Paredes; I’m really not convinced he’s good enough for this level. Still, anything can happen. I think Pochettino will improve the speed of this team; not necessarily in terms of athleticism, but in terms of how quickly they move the ball, and that’s paramount to succeeding with this lazy team. If he can do that, they’ll finally start looking good again.

Perhaps it’s a shade adventurous of me to expect them to manage such tonight, but I am happy to take the risk. You all know Pochettino is a good manager, and you all know how good the Paris Saint-Germain squad is. There are a few weak areas but they can outscore any team in the country on their day. I’d like to think that they’d all want to impress him at the moment too, so with the proviso that Neymar sits on the bench, and there aren’t any bust-ups that result in lots of unnecessary red cards, I anticipate a convincing Paris Saint-Germain display tonight.

Of course, I’ve only been encouraged to back such by their bitter rivals, Olympique de Marseille, who are Ligue 1’s answer to the cringe emote. A massive club, they remain, but a good team, they are not. The only time they look half-decent is when they break play up in midfield and counter at speed because aside from that, they look poor. Really poor, actually, and incapable of keeping teams out, at least of their own making. I just heard that they’re planning to loan Dutch midfielder Strootman to Genoa too, so he’s unlikely to feature tonight. Good call, Olympique de Marseille – cut loose one of your best and most hard-working midfielders!

Still, all will be well because they’ve brought in attack-minded Spanish full-back Lirola – right? Hmm. I think they needed a goal-scorer, at least one more flair player, and a defensive commander more than they needed a full-back but there we go. It wouldn’t be Olympique de Marseille if they made sense! I think that this is a really poor representation of what was once France’s most respected football clubs. They’re incredibly predictable in the final third – barring the brilliant Thauvin, of course – and it’ll take more than a decent Payet display against Montpellier HSC to convince me otherwise. I see a mentally frail team that offer little by way of natural understanding, and certainly lacks any kind of cohesion or structure to contain teams. 

Now, Olympique de Marseille might have gotten some joy against the Paris Saint-Germain side seen for the majority of the past couple of years, and indeed, they did beat them 1-0 when the two teams last met. This is different, though – it’s a Pochettino team now. The transformation is not complete; far from it. However, the early signs are encouraging in an attacking perspective, and if they can put their bitter rivals on the back foot early enough in Lens, I think they’ll be comfortable.

I’m taking a risk here, folks, but backing Paris Saint-Germain to beat this predictable Olympique de Marseille side by two goals or more at 27/25 appeals to me.

Verdict: Paris Saint-Germain to beat the -1.5 Asian Handicap at 27/25.