Ligue 1: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 vs. St-Etienne – Preview
Olympique de Marseille
Ligue 1 reigning champions, Olympique de Marseille, are catching up on the league leaders http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lille-OSC-c39800, as they emerge victorious in four of their last five encounters. The home side are currently placed fourth in the league table and trail the league leaders
by six points. OM were hoping that they will defend the title successfully, but their slipups and Lille’s supreme form dented their hopes. However, with 15 matches left to play in the season, OM can successfully defend their title.
OM have acquired 39 points from their 23 matches. They have played impressively in front of their home crowd, as they lost only once in their 11 matches. OM have an overall record of 23 played, 10 won, 9 drawn, and 4 lost.
Team manager, Didier Deschamps, is confident for his side to claim the French crown this season. He praised his side’s performance against Sochaux last week. Deschamps said, “At Sochaux the supporters were plentiful, and they were very happy and proud of
our performance. The public are not our adversary. We will need them on Saturday when our rival will be green and white.”
OM tactician will be hoping that his side can bag all three points in their upcoming match against AS Saint-Etienne at Stade Velodrome. This match will prove to be decisive for the home side, whether they can lift the French crown or not, as league leaders
will be the favourites to bag all three points in their Sunday’s match against Montpellier. Deschamps will be looking to emerge victorious, as a stalemate will dent their hopes of defending the title.
AS Saint-Etienne
Les Verts just managed to prolong their stay in Ligue 1 last term, as they finished 17th in the league table. Team was aiming to achieve a respectable position in the league this term and so far, ASSE have done well to attain a sixth place in
the league table.
ASSE received a crushing 4 – 1 home defeat from their bitter rivals Olympique Lyon last week. Les Verts morale will be extremely low and to add more to their misery they are going to play with the Ligue 1 defending champions OM. The visitors will definitely
look to claim a good result from this game.
Les Vert have acquired 35 points from their 23 matches. They have won four of their 12 encounters while playing away from their home. ASSE have an overall record of 23 played, 9 won, 8 drawn and 6 lost. Les vert midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Laurent-Batlles-c21731, who scored a
goal in the 1 – 1 stalemate against OM at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in October is optimistic for their upcoming fixture.
Batlles said, “When we play at Marseille or at other clubs who are competing for the title, it is always complicated. Marseille is always a very dangerous team. It’s a team that blends highly experienced players and great quality. Marseille is always a candidate
for the title of champion of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899, as are Lyon and Lille.”
Team News
Olympique Marseille
Deschamps will have to do without the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Valbuena-c24690, Cesar Azpilicueta and Julien Rodriguez, as all are sidelined due to injuries.
AS Saint-Etienne
Loris Nery and Alejandro Alonsa will watch the match from the stands sustaining thigh injury and ankle injury respectively.
Prediction
It will be tough competition between the two sides as the home side is full of confidence and the visitors are looking to rebuild their morale. It will be a 2 – 1 win for Olympique de Marseille.
(The views expressed by the writer are his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of http://answers.bettor.com/External.aspx?url=http://www.bettor.com)
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