Le Classique

Le Classique (French pronunciation: ​[lə klasik], The Classic), also known as the Derby de France, is a football match contested between French top-flight clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille. Unlike most derbies, the rivalry is not a product of close proximities—it involves the two largest cities in France. It features the hub of French society and style in Paris against the port city of the working class in Marseille. North against south and the kingpin of the southern provinces against the political center of the capital city adds the political dimension to this rivalry. PSG vs. OM is considered to be the fiercest rivalry in the country and one of the greatest in club football.

The duo are the only two French clubs to have won European trophies and were the dominant forces in the land prior to the emergence of Olympique Lyonnais at the start of the millennium. Yet despite their recent travails, PSG and l'OM remain, along with Saint-Étienne, the only French clubs with a big history pre-millennium , adding to the appeal of the country's biggest fixture. Al though, as Olympique Lyonnais have a fantastic ultras group the Saint Étienne vs. Lyon derby usually surpasses Le Classique in terms of atmosphere. They are the two most popular clubs in France, and are also the most followed French clubs outside the country. Both teams are at or near the top of the attendance lists every year as well.