Rhone giants play the final of the Coupe de La Ligue at the Stade de http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 looking to win the competition for the third consecutive time while Remi Garde looking to end Lyon’s trophy drought
A sold-out Stade de France will see two heavyweights of French football, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 and Olympique de Marseille play the final of this year’s Coupe de la Ligue.
Lyon will be looking to end a four-year trophy drought while Marseille will be looking to win the competition to save their season after a traumatic last few months.
Following three trophyless seasons under Claude Puel, Les Gones have a great chance of winning their first cup since 2008. Lyon might no longer be the only dominant force in French football but young coach Remi Garde has done a remarkable http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684 of turning
things around for the Rhone side since becoming their manager last summer. Despite a shoestring budget compared to what his predecessors had at their disposal, Remi Garde has done well with a young side.
Coupe de la Ligue isn’t the only chance Les Gones have of winning some silverware. Lyon will also take on US Quevilly in the final of the Coupe de France in about two weeks and Garde would be looking to use tonight’s final as a source of inspiration for
a great end to the campaign.
Les Gones have fared brilliantly in Coupe de la Ligue having beaten the likes of Lille and Paris Saint-Germain before beating Gazelec Ajaccio 4-0 in the semi-final.
Furthermore, Lyon are unbeaten in seven games and go into the final with a lot of confidence.
Clearly, OL are the favourites to lift the trophy against a side that is in the midst of their worst run of results in half a century.
By the end of January, Olympique de Marseille were fighting on all fronts. However, Les Phoceens have not won a single game in Ligue 1 since beating Stade Rennais 2-1 back in January 29. After collecting just three points from 10 games, Didier Deschamps’
men have now fallen far away from a European berth.
Victory in the final could be Marseille’s only chance of playing in Europe next season and a win is of paramount importance to a team that has literally forgotten how to win.
On Wednesday, Marseille lost 3-1 at home to Montpellier which takes their miserable run to 12 in all competitions. This is Marseille’s worst run since 1962 when they went 15 games without a win.
Quotes from Lyon and Marseille
Remi Garde feels that though his side is considered to be favourites to win, the Frenchman says that anything can happen.
"The form-book might suggest that we are the favourites but anything can happen in a one-off game. "OM might not be playing at their very best but they have won this trophy in each of the last two years and they certainly didn't look like a struggling team
against PSG. This will be a close-fought game."
Djimi Traore on the other hand, feels that Marseille need to win the game in order to secure a place in Europe.
"It can't wipe out all the bad things that have happened before but it is very important for the club. The players have plenty of character. We are all in the same boat and we will do everything we can to beat Lyon."
Team news
Lyon
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cris-c9486 is included in the squad despite a calf injury.
Marseille
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Souleymane-Diawara-c33850 was set to make his fifth Coupe de la Ligue appearance but a knee injury has prematurely ended his season. Loic Remy, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andre Ayew have injury worries but will play in the final.
Predicted final score: Lyon 2-1 Marseille
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