om | OM-Monaco: support for Ukraine, essential victory to regain second place… Information before the match
This time there is no more joker. Against Monaco (10th, 38 points) tonight (8:45 p.m.), OM are forced to win if they want to regain second place taken by Nice. After a very badly negotiated month of February when the calendar was affordable, the Olympians attack March with a choice opponent in front of 57,000 spectators.
Finally, enough to gauge what the real level of this OM team is for a final sprint where there are still a lot of “big guys” to face (Nice, Lyon, Paris, Rennes, etc.). “Our reality today is to know where we are against an opponent who will do everything to win this match“, confirms Jorge Sampaoli. And to know whether or not they are able to grab this very important place on the podium.
Jorge Sampaoli wants to regain control of the game
More than the disappointment of the result, OM above all showed poverty in the game against Clermont and Troyes. The staff took advantage of this week without a match, first to give the players a little rest on Monday and Tuesday, before resuming attacking work from Wednesday. “We worked a lot on the attack, tried to have very compact lines to hope that the block presses the rival a lot, with and without the ball.details Jorge Sampaoli. I hope for a very aggressive team against Monaco and determined to win the match.”
Cengiz Under absent
How will Jorge Sampaoli’s OM evaluate tonight? Mystery, as usual. But there seems to be little chance of seeing Arkadiusz Milik up front, supported by Dimitri Payet as a central playmaker. The fact remains that Cengiz Ünder, ill and absent from training on Friday, is forfeited. Bamba Dieng could take the opportunity to start, just like Cédric Bakambu.
The likely starting XI:
Guardian : Lopez
Defenders: Rongier, Saliba, Caleta Car, Peres
Environments : Guendouzi, Kamara, Gueye (or Gerson)
Forwards: Dieng, Payet (cap.), Bakambu
Substitutes (choose from): Mandanda (g), Vanni (g), Balerdi, Lirola, Kolasinac, Gerson (or Gueye), Milik, Luis Henrique, De la Fuente, Harit
Suspended in case of warning: Guendouzi, Payet.
Big blow from Nice, second place in danger
Faced with a PSG who had the lead in Madrid, Christophe Galtier’s Nice made the big deal of this 27th day (1-0). Enough to regain second place and condemn the Olympians to victory. Even if OM will be third tonight whatever happens, the pursuers took advantage of the points lost by Sampaoli’s men in February. Strasbourg, which goes to Reims, and Rennes, which receives Angers, could still earn today.
OM don’t forget Ukraine
In a context of war where football is secondary, the Vélodrome pays tribute to Ukraine this evening. Yellow and blue will thus replace the sky and white for a few minutes: one hour before kick-off, the grounds of Boulevard Michelet will be illuminated in the colors of Ukraine. This will be the case until further notice, in all matches. Messages of support will also be projected on the giant screen before the entry of the two teams on the lawn, and on the advertising LEDs near the green rectangle.
A collection of clothes, blankets, hygiene products and food will also be organized by the OM Foundation in trucks in front of the entrances to Jean-Bouin and Ganay (it will continue against Basel and Nice). Another place at La Commanderie for Olympian employees.
Monaco have been doing well at the Olympians for 3 years
It’s a historic clash of the French championship and two opponents accustomed to confronting each other. OM have won three of their last four matches against Monaco in Ligue 1 (one defeat). Which is as much as in the previous 16 (5 draws, 8 defeats).
The two teams that suffer the least in their 16m
Rather fond of possession, the Olympians (61% on average) and the Monegasques (57%) are the two teams that let their opponents touch the ball the least in their area. Opponents only disturbed Monegasque defenders 398 times, while William Saliba or Luan Peres were only disturbed 384 times.
What avoid conceding opportunities, since these are two of the formations that suffer the least shots. Only Rennes do as much as OM (237) ahead of Monaco (255). Long a better defense, Marseille have conceded more goals lately, at least one in the last five games. His longest streak without going undefeated. “It’s one of the things that made us lose so many pointss, confirms Pol Lirola. We have to find this way of defending as a whole together.”
Guillermo Maripan package
Guillermo Maripan opened the score Tuesday in Nantes, where ASM was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. He also injured his knee when he landed badly. “He was fine during the match, but he complained about it afterwards. I don’t think it’s serious”, according to Philippe Clément. After a final test yesterday, he was declared unfit for the meeting at the Vélodrome. On the other hand, Jean Lucas, expelled last Sunday against Reims, returns, he served his suspension, Wednesday in the cup.
Badiashile and Golovin back
Benoît Badiashile (for whom ASM refused an XXL offer from Newcastle) injured his thigh on January 9 in Nantes, Aleksandr Golovin was ill before the cup quarter-final against Amiens. Two long-term absentees finally return. “Both are available for this match against Marseille. But they are not ready to play 90 minutes. Cesc Fabregas received a blow to his ankle. He is out. It is not serious, but must be careful with him. He has to be at 200% to play matches.” Clement said.
3 games without winning in Ligue 1, mixed results for Clément
Since his arrival on January 4, Philippe Clément has only won two L1 matches with ASM, against Lorient (4-0) and Lyon (2-0). He remains on a cup elimination in Nantes and a defeat at home against Reims. “We can assess the work of a coach after six months. It’s impossible to judge him after two months with matches every weekend, with injuries, cases of Covid”, said the Belgian. His team remains on 3 games without winning in Ligue 1 and 4 away.