Marseille will be looking to keep Paris Saint-Germain on toes when they play host to south-coast rivals OGC Nice at Stade Velodrome this Sunday
Les Phoceens are currently second in the league with 22 points on the table and trail PSG only by goal difference, although they have one game in hand.
Following a sensational start to the 2012/2013 Ligue 1 campaign, OM’s form has been patchy in recent weeks. Elie Baup’s men would be looking for a positive result on Sunday to get their campaign back on track and move on from the disappointment of midweek
result, after having to settle for a draw against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Europa League at Stade Velodrome.
The result has left Marseille’s chances of progressing in the competition in jeopardy and coach, Elie Baup, is far from pleased with the result. However, the coach has turned his attentions towards domestic matters and is looking forward to Sunday’s clash
against Les Aiglons.
"It's always painful to concede such a late goal. But we played some good football. We are still in with a chance of going through. To concede so late on is hard to take, frustrating, but now we need to be ready to go again when we play Nice on Sunday."
OGC Nice, on the other hand, will be beaming with confidence following their victory over Lyon in Coupe de la Ligue, followed by Saturday’s 2-1 home win against Nancy in the Ligue 1. It was their first win in six Ligue 1 games and coach, Claude Puel would
be hoping for another positive result when they make 200-kilometre journey along the Mediterranean coast to take on their local rivals.
Last season, Olympique de Marseille won this fixture 2-0 in Week 13 of the Ligue 1 with Jordan Ayew and Loic Remy scoring for the nine-time champions of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899. In the reverse fixture, both teams settled for a 1-1 draw last March. Andre Ayew scored for Les
Phoceens while Fabian Monzon scored the equaliser for Les Aiglons.
Team News
Olympique de Marseille
Joey Barton, who scored a spectacular goal against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Europa League, still has two matches of his 12-game suspension to serve. Elie Baup can call upon the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rod-Fanni-c31402 has also returned to the side
after completing his one-match suspension.
Andre-Pierre Gignac is still out and is expected to be on the sidelines until the New Year after fracturing the fifth metatarsal of his left foot in October. However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Souleymane-Diawara-c33850 has returned from injury but is expected to be on the bench.
OGC Nice
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nemanja-Pejcinovic-c27539, who has missed the last two games, is still some time away from first-team action.
Prediction
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 have been in fine form for large part of the campaigns. Although they have struggled in Europe, their domestic form has been nothing less than superb, keeping in mind that the club finished last season at lowly tenth place and they
have a new coach at the helm.
OGC Nice have returned to winning ways but Marseille are a tough team to beat, especially at Stade Velodrome. And odds are in the favour of Les Phoceens to win this game and keep the pressure firmly on Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table.
Final Predicted Score: Marseille 2-1 OGC Nice
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