The Olympians had left Saint-Étienne with a crushing defeat at the Vélodrome. A bad 0-2, which on September 17, brought down the men of André Villas-Boas from their cloud after their victory at the Parc des Princes. And shattered a 41-year-old home unbeaten streak.
Now in the hands of Jorge Sampaoli, they find the Greens on their lawn, with the objective of washing away the affront and especially the hopes of European qualification. “If we don’t win on Sunday, it will reduce the possibilities“, conceded the Argentine technician on Friday at a press conference.
OM can take off on Lens and put pressure on Rennes
In the race for fifth place, OM knew they had a more affordable schedule than their competitors, who play referees in the race for the title and for the podium. Lens could not stop Lille on Friday evening (0-3). This afternoon, the Marseillais have the opportunity to take three steps ahead of the Northerners and put pressure on Rennes, which receives PSG at 9 p.m.
Thauvin’s Olympian adventure could end sooner than expected
Difficult to assess the arrangements in which Florian Thauvin will appear this afternoon. If the departure of the Orleans to Mexico was formalized Friday, he recalled in the evening that he would do everything to give a European qualification to his “heart club“. But he will have to be wary of referee Johan Hamel. Faced with an accumulation of yellow cards, he is under suspension, which would be served on the last day in Metz. He could see his adventure with the ‘OM end even earlier than expected, next week against Angers.
The return of the wounded from Saint-Etienne
Miguel Trauco and Yvan Neyou are back. The Peruvian suffered from an ingrown toenail and only missed the match in Montpellier. The Cameroonian, out on a stretcher in Bordeaux, had played the next match against PSG, but Claude Puel then put him to rest to treat his ankle and he did not play the last two meetings.
ASSE, the worst first quarter of an hour in Ligue 1
With eleven goals conceded in the first quarter of an hour, AS Saint-Étienne is the worst team in Ligue 1 at the start of the match. Despite Andy Delort’s goal in the 6th minute, last week in Montpellier, the Greens still won at La Mosson. Good news for them: this is not the most prolific period for OM (6 goals scored), unlike the last quarter of an hour when OM scored 11 goals (plus 3 in added time). ).
Japanese reunion
Jacky Bonnevay, Claude Puel’s assistant, is always happy to find OM, of which he was captain in 1985-86. Today, he particularly appreciates seeing “his” Japanese, Hiroki Sakai and Yuto Nagatomo, frequented with the Japanese national team where he was Vahid Halilhodzic’s assistant.