Marseille’s home games this season have been high-scoring affairs, producing a total of 11 goals. De Zerbi’s style is not to take a step back simply because of PSG’s status as European champions, which should make for an open and exciting encounter.

PSG may be depleted by injuries, but they shrugged those concerns in a midweek 4-0 win against Atalanta, and they have netted at least two goals in each of their last three games. This is a team getting into a groove.

Historically, these games have been high-scoring affairs. Across the last six fixtures between the clubs, five have yielded at least three goals. Last season, there were at least seven goals across the two Ligue 1 fixtures.

PSG are a dominant team when it comes to ball possession, which translates to a domination of territory and a high corner count.

Across their seven competitive fixtures last season, they have won at least four corners in each game. Indeed, they have only once dipped below six corners, which was their home match against Lens.

Luis Enrique’s side average 7.5 corners per game in Ligue 1 this season, which is a tally only bettered by Marseille (7.75).

OM have only given up 12 corners so far this season in the league, but they have not faced a side so well equipped to dominate the ball and territory.

Marseille will be eager to impose themselves in this match, pushed forward by a home crowd that will want to see direct attacking play and a high shot count.

They showed attacking intent against Real Madrid, managing five shots on target (15 overall), in a 2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu.

De Zerbi is an attack-minded manager, and his side have managed at least four shots on target in 11 of their 13 matches stretching back to last season.

Vitinha is joint-top for PSG when it comes to shots in Ligue 1, having managed nine across his four appearances this season (2.57 per 90).

The midfielder is set to be given additional attacking responsibilities with the injury to Joao Neves (3.09 shots per 90), probably giving him greater rein to push forward and influence the game in an attacking manner. Warren Zaire-Emery is likely to become the deep-lying player.

There is also a strong chance he could be on penalties should PSG be awarded one. Dembele, the regular penalty taker, is missing, while Barcola is out too.

Vitinha is one of two available players for PSG who has had a shot at goal from a free kick this season (Achraf Hakimi is the other), so he can expect a promotion in this capacity, too.

Zaire-Emery is by far and away the most prolific PSG player when it comes to committing fouls this season, having given up six so far in Ligue 1 (2.31 per 90). No other player in Luis Enrique’s side has committed more than three.

Joao Neves’ absence means that he will likely be thrust into a central midfield role – a position from where he committed two fouls coming on as a half time substitute against Toulouse at the end of August.

Marseille’s central midfield players are picking up a significant volume of free kicks. Angel Gomes (five) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (four) are both in the top three of their players in this capacity in Ligue 1 this season.

Zaire-Emery is also likely to be asked to do more defensive work than in a typical Ligue 1 game because Marseille will try to have a share of the ball, increasing the opportunities for a mistimed challenge.

Although Kvaratskhelia had an injury scare last weekend, he roared back into action in spectacular style in midweek against Atalanta, scoring a blistering solo goal as PSG ran out 4-0 winners.

The Georgia star has scored in each of his last three appearances for club and country that have lasted more than 30 minutes, and that will very probably be the case in this game.

He was taken off early against Atalanta in midweek to preserve him for this fixture, which will be his first taste of the Velodrome. A scorer in the final of the Champions League, he is a player who has an appetite for the big occasion.

With Dembele, Barcola and Desire Doue on the sidelines, he will shoulder the additional attacking burden along with Barcola, particularly if Luis Enrique elects to play with a false nine as he did in midweek.