The context: Saint-Étienne saved, Marseille at the finish
In this three-way mini-championship, Marseille seems in a good position to seize 5th place at the expense of Lens, defeated against Lille this Friday evening (0-3), and Rennes, which receives PSG this Sunday evening ( 9 p.m.). With a more affordable schedule, the Phocéens have the opportunity to definitely distance themselves if they win in Forez.
After winning in Montpellier last week (2-1) and crossing the 40 point mark traditionally necessary to stay in the top flight, AS Saint-Étienne will experience a relatively quiet end of the season. For Claude Puel, the coach of the Greens, the goal is to stay the course and finish the season well.
On the first leg last September, the Stéphanois won 2-0 at the Stade Vélodrome thanks to goals from Romain Hamouma and Denis Bouanga.
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The phrase
“In France, there is the cliché of teams playing low and grouped together. Saint-Etienne scores a lot at the start of the match, which performs a strong pressing, it will play against us (…) We must use the 90 minutes to win, I do not envisage a draw. To continue to hope for a European qualification, we must win. Otherwise, it will reduce our possibilities. “
Jorge Sampaoli, OM coach, on the match against Saint-Étienne.
The teams
For this meeting of the 36th day of Ligue 1, Claude Puel will be able to count on the returns of Neyou and Trauco, absent respectively 2 weeks for the first and 1 week for the second. Despite his resumption of training, Mason is unavailable, as are Modeste and Moulin, who have finished their season. Boudebouz and Monnet-Paquet are not summoned.
On the Marseille side, Jorge Sampaoli will have a full group at his disposal, no injuries or suspended are to be deplored. Note the return of Amavi to competition after an absence of more than 4 months. Rocchia, Ntcham and Khaoui are not traveling in Forez.
The man to watch: Florian Thauvin
It was still a rumor Thursday, it is now official: Florian Thauvin will join the Monterrey Tigers (Mexico) next June for a period of 5 years. On Twitter, the one who had been at OM since September 2013 (despite a freelance for a few months at Newcastle in 2015), however, clarified that he remained 100% focused on OM’s end-of-season goals: “Friends , it’s not yet time to say goodbye … We still have 3 games and a European qualification to go! I am Marseillais for life and I will give everything for my heart club until the last minute.” With 8 goals and 8 assists in Ligue 1 this season, the world champion is back after a season spent in the infirmary.