Focus on Olympique de Marseille
They’ve had their difficulties on the European scene, of course, culminating in elimination from all continental competition last Wednesday. But in the league, the situation is vastly different: Olympique de Marseille have a series of fine performances and will approach this match against AS Monaco with maximum confidence.
Five straight wins for OM
Bordeaux (3-1), Lorient (1-0), Strasbourg (1-0), Nantes (3-1) and Nîmes (2-0). The Olympians of André Villas-Boas are on a run of five straight league wins. Better still, they haven’t lost since September 17 (2-0 defeat against Saint-Etienne). Before this series of victories, the Phocéens had draws against Lille, Metz and Lyon, all finishing 1-1. Currently fourth in Ligue 1 on 24 points, the Marseillais have two games in hand (against Lens and Nice) which could propel them to the top of the standings if they win. Things are going well in the league, unlike in Europe. OM were eliminated from the Champions League and even the Europa League by finishing fourth and last in their group with only one win from six matches (against Olympiakos, in a group also comprised of Manchester City and FC Porto).
With Florian Thauvin but not Dimitri Payet
Top scorer (4 goals) and assist leader (5 assists) for Olympique de Marseille this season, Florian Thauvin has been one of the main offensive weapons for the Marseille club for several seasons, who will be deprived of Dimitri Payet tomorrow, as he is suspended. The players from the Rock will also have to be wary of one of their former teammates who plays today in Provence, Valère Germain. The player, who trained at the Academy has been involved in 3 of Marseille’s last 6 goals against AS Monaco in Ligue 1 (2 goals, 1 assist). It was only against Saint Etienne (6) that he has been more decisive than against his former club (4 goals, 1 assist). But AS Monaco will also have their own weapons, since Wissam Ben Yedder has never gone four games without scoring in Ligue 1 for the Red and Whites.
Press conference extracts
Read Niko Kovac’s pre-match press conference
Read Kevin Volland’s pre-match press conference
"Il faut récupérer, Monaco c’est un gros match, il faut relever la tête." pic.twitter.com/MA8ggAi7rr
— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) December 10, 2020
Olympique de Marseille – AS Monaco in numbers…
- 97: Matches played in Ligue 1, with 34 wins for AS Monaco, 24 draws and 39 losses (134 goals scored, 134 conceded).
- 48: Total matches played in Marseille, with a record of 11 AS Monaco wins 16 draws and 21 losses (64 goals scored, 81 conceded).
- 4-1: On January 15, 2017, AS Monaco recorded their biggest margin of victory in Marseille thanks to Thomas Lemar, Radamel Falcao and a double by Bernardo Silva.
- 6: Wissam Ben Yedder has scored 6 goals in 9 matches against Marseille in the top flight — he’s only scored more against OGC Nice (9).
- 1: Marseille have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 13 Ligue 1 games against AS Monaco (33 goals conceded), their longest streak against a current top-flight opponent.
