Marseille will host Metz as they hope to end a dismal run of form when they host Metz in the Ligue 1. Les Olympiens’ difficult season took a further turn for the worse as they fell 1-0 to struggling Lyon.
Preview (Marseille vs. Metz)
Although their 1-0 victory over Thionville Lusitanos in the Coupe de France was scarcely convincing. Marseille may have started the New Year as they want to go on. Gennaro Gattuso’s team has not been as fortunate in the weeks that have followed. Les Olympiens’ narrow cup victory is their lone triumph of 2024 thus far. On February 4, they were tested like never before by Rennes. They eliminated them from the Coupe de France on penalties after Ligue 1 stalemates with Strasbourg and Monaco.
Even though Marseille’s opponents, Choc des Olympiques, are locked in an unexpected relegation battle, Alexandre Lacazette’s 10th goal of the season was enough to send Les Gones to victory. Gattuso’s team also failed to force opposition goalkeeper Anthony Lopes into a single save during the game. In a meeting on Tuesday, Olympiens staff members presented themselves to leaders of fan clubs. Marseille’s eight-game winning streak in Ligue 1 came to an abrupt end at the Groupama Stadium. Marseille currently sits in eighth place in the standings. They are six points behind Lille for the final Champions League spot and three points below sixth-place Lens.
The only team to complete their first ten Ligue 1 home games of the 2023–24 campaign without losing is Nice. Meanwhile, Metz, who will face rivals Lorient in gameweek 20, suffered their sixth Stade Saint-Symphorien loss of the season. After Mohamed Bamba had put Lorient ahead, it took Leszlo Boloni’s team just three minutes to react through Didier Lamkel Ze. However, a goal from Pasos Katseris in the second half added to Metz’s misery. Les Grenats now go to Marseille with an embarrassing eight-game losing skid in all competitions. Boloni’s team hasn’t escaped a domestic loss since they unexpectedly defeated Lorient 3-2 at the end of November.
Team News
After being eliminated from the competition, six of Marseille’s seven Africa Cup of Nations players have already returned home. However, as his team gets ready to play hosts Ivory Coast in the semi-finals, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba is still unavailable for domestic duty. The injuries to Valentin Rongier (knee), Geoffrey Kondogbia (muscle), and Jordan Veretout (unspecified) have decimated the Olympiens’ midfield; but, the latter two are supposedly winning their struggles to be ready for Friday’s game.
Despite suffering a hand injury, Ismaila Sarr is also anticipated to play and may pose a threat to Eliman Ndiaye in the latter third; however, Amir Murillo (muscle) and Bilal Nadir (ACL) are limited to the treatment room. Kevin Van Den Kerkhof, Fali Cande, Ablie Jallow, and Lamine Camara, the four members of Metz’s AFCON contingent, have all returned to France. Jallow, who plays for the Gambia, was the only one of the four who did not play against Lorient.
Marseille 2-0 Metz
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