Paris Saint-Germain will need no motivation when they take on arch-rivals Olympique Marseille, but players must keep their emotions in check in what promises to be a tough-as-nails Ligue 1 encounter. high octane, PSG boss Luis Enrique said on Saturday.

Dubbed “The Classic”, Sunday’s match between France’s two most successful clubs will see defending champions and league leaders PSG take on third-placed Marseille, led by Italian Roberto De Zerbi and three points behind.

After eight Ligue 1 matches, PSG were unbeaten heading into the clash at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome, but Luis Enrique said form rarely counted in such matches where emotions often dictated results.

“With this type of match, it doesn’t matter what you have done before. There is so much tension. I am very satisfied, we played a very good (Champions League) match against PSV Eindhoven (in a 1-1 draw). I’m very optimistic about what I see,” he told reporters.

“The high-voltage matches are almost the easiest, you won’t lack motivation. But you have to be careful not to be too motivated, I take that into account. You need 100 percent motivation, not 105 percent. You must not let yourself be guided by emotions.

“We are five points ahead of last year, we started even better. AS Monaco (tied with PSG at 20 points) and Marseille are at a different level. If it continues, we’ll see. C “It’s positive for everyone, it keeps the players motivated.”

De Zerbi praised Luis Enrique, describing him as “one of the best coaches in the world” and the Spaniard returned the compliment, highlighting his counterpart’s achievements at Brighton & Hove Albion.

De Zerbi helped Brighton qualify for European competition for the first time in the club’s Premier League history with exciting, attacking football that Luis Enrique admired.

“For me, De Zerbi is an exciting coach who I followed at Brighton. He is a coach who likes to attack, we have that in common,” he said.

“The way he wants to dominate matches, his ability to convince his players… I had a lot of fun (watching) his Brighton team. I hope I don’t have as much fun tomorrow.”

PSG will face one of their own in midfielder Adrien Rabiot, a young product who now plays for Marseille, but Luis Enrique is no stranger to crossing the divide, having played for Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona .

“My case dates back 25 years and no one cares. I have nothing to say. It’s a matter of feeling,” said Luis Enrique.

“All this takes place in a context. It’s a logical reaction. Everyone does what they want, it would be a shame if we judged them, it’s common in football.”