Why Mandanda vs. Ibrahimovic Will Be Key Marseille vs. PSG Battle

Moments make finals, and on Saturday, two of the season’s outstanding players will do battle as Paris Saint-Germain take on Olympique de Marseille for the last trophy of the French season.

PSG’s rivals from the south will travel to the Stade de France to try to prevent the side from the capital winning the Coupe de France, putting a stop to their second straight quadruple.

The man that will be the most important factor in Marseille having any chance of winning at the weekend is goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. His battle against the league’s top scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will ultimately determine the destination of the trophy on Saturday night.

Both players are expected to feature in their last game for their respective clubs, and both have built an amazing legacy over their time in French football.

Just like Ibrahimovic, Mandanda is a free agent at the end of June and will decide his future after Saturday’s showpiece, per Tuttosport (h/t the Express’ Charlie Phillippe). Saturday’s match will see the France No. 2 complete his ninth season at the Stade Velodrome, and this has been perhaps his most crucial.

As OM struggled for results, the performances from Mandanda have kept them above water. His one-man rescue job did not go unnoticed, and the 31-year-old was named as Ligue 1’s Goalkeeper of the Year this …

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