Marseille has dragged for years the reputation of being a chaotic and even chaotic city, nothing to do with the avant-garde touch that characterizes it today. Having overcome that cliché that tarnishes its image, it has earned the bragging rights of being a welcoming place. The difference is accepted as something natural and enriching for their environment, but there is one thing where the debate is not allowed: the love and commitment for the Olympique is endless.
It’s been eleven years since Marseille defeated their arch-nemesis PSG at the Vélodrome and that wound aches on the street. Today, at the door of another confrontation, the fans reset their enthusiasm and paraded the blue and white colors of their team since dawn, like a procession. It’s hard not to see an Olympique shield around every corner, proof of the symbiosis that exists between the club and the city.
The old port area condenses a good part of what Marseille is. Thousands of people passed through its vast esplanade, many of them trying to shorten the wait until tonight’s match against PSG: “It’s time to show that PSG is not that big,” more than one commented to Mundo Deportivo , Tired of having to endure the purchasing power of those in the capital against the fever and passion of those in the south.
PSG is an artificial team, managed from Qatar and with a social mass that jumped on the bandwagon thanks to the success of the last decade. Marseille, founded in 1899, has in its windows the only Champions League won by a French club throughout history. The idiosyncrasies of some and others have nothing to do with it, and from that was born a rivalry that woke up this morning in the street and will continue at night in the Vélodrome. At stake, more than a Cup tie.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
