Following a home defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Toulouse-FC-c40751 at the Stade Velodrome, Olympique de Marseille should prepare for life without the UEFA Champions League next season with some consequences
First win is always the hardest
The start of the 2011/2012 Ligue 1 campaign started on an indifferent not for Olympique de Marseille when they were held to a 2-2 draw with Sochaux Montbéliard. In the next game, Les Phoceens drew against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AJ-Auxerre-c38247 with the same scoreline.
That was not the end of it though as they were held to a stalemate by AS Saint-Etienne at home. The signs were there and in Week 4, Les Phoceens lost 3-2 to reigning Ligue 1 champions LOSC Lille at the Metropole.
However, that was not the end of it as Les Phoceens lost at home to Stade Rennais. In week 6, Marseille faithful had to face further agony when they lost to Olympique Lyonnais 2-0.
Six weeks had passed and Marseille were still waiting for their first win in the Championnat. Mired in the relegation zone, Deschamps found his side in a place not many people expected or had rarely experienced.
In Week 7, Les Phoceens finally registered their first victory when they beat Evian TG 2-0 at home. Many thought that Marseille had finally found their feet. However, any such notions were dismissed following a 1-1 draw with Valenciennes.
Signs of life
October started in the same fashion but Marseille finally started showing signs of recovery. A good campaign in the Champions League did a lot for them.
Bar a defeat against Montpellier Herault, Marseille had a great month which included a 3-0 thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain at the Velodrome.
Marseille had finally found their feet and in December, the side was oozing with confidence. They did not lose a single game. The New Year started brilliantly for Deschamps’ men which included a 2-0 win over Lille.
February started in a similar fashion when they defeated OGC Nice in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final. However, it was back to the start for Marseille as draws in the league with Lyon and Valenciennes followed.
In between those two games, Marseille beat http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan at home in the Champions League round of 16 first-leg.
Returning to the start
In their last game of February, Marseille lost 1-0 to Stade Brestois in the Ligue. Though the defeat was a sickening blow, it was certainly not the final nail in the coffin.
However, what was about to happen in their first game of March, was certainly a major setback. Marseille lost to Toulouse at home on Saturday. The defeat has put a major dent on Marseilles hopes to play in the Champions League next season.
Champions League - an over optimistic idea
Lying in eight place in the Ligue 1 standings, the Rhone giants now trail LOSC Lille by a massive eight points.
Though there are still 13 games to play for, it seems unlikely that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 will be able to usurp Lille who are in the last Champions League spot. Furthermore, the likes of Stade Rennais and AS Saint-Etienne have hit form at the right moment.
On the other hand, Girondins de Bordeaux who are three points behind Marseille, have returned to winning ways which means that Marseille will find it extremely difficult to even qualify for the Europa League.
Coupe de la Ligue trophy a must
The Coupe de la Ligue seems to be the only way Marseille play in Europe next season. In the final, they will face http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130, another club that is facing more or less the same dilemma.
Champions League qualification seems to be out of their hands now but Marseille should return to winning ways in order to stop a descend that will cost the club in every way one can imagine.
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