Marseille will be looking for a huge three points to keep them in the race at the top of Ligue 1. OM travel to the Stade du Moustoir to take on FC Lorient in Sunday’s evening fixture.
The visitors have slipped to third in the league table, with RC Lens going above them on goal difference. Many would have expected Paris Saint-Germain to be the runaway leaders of Ligue 1 again this season, but the Parisians have lost consecutive league games which sees their lead at the top of the table shortened to just six points, giving both Marseille and Lens the chance to keep the pressure on towards the end of the season. Marseille are currently in a Champions League qualifying position, with the top three from Ligue 1 booking their place in Europe’s premier competition, but OM will be pushing for a top two position at the least through, with only first place and runners-up qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League and third place having to go through the qualifying play-offs. Marseille have a three-point cushion over fourth place Monaco.
Being the last Ligue 1 fixture of the weekend on Sunday evening, Marseille could find themselves further behind – or even in fourth spot – by the time they come to play. Igor Tudor’s side could be in need of a win to keep up with the rest and avoid slipping further behind.
Lorient go into the weekend sitting comfortably in midtable. The western France outfit are tenth in the league, with an 18-point gap to the bottom four meaning relegation to Ligue 2 is out of sight. European qualification is a bit of a stretch too though, with an eight-point gap to fifth place Lille. A win on Sunday could be enough to see them climb a few places, with Lyon, Nice, and Reims not far off Lorient in the standings.
The hosts go into the weekend in a stale run of form, with just one win in their last five league games. The win at home to struggling Troyes earlier in March was followed up by a 1-1 draw away to Nice. Last time out, Régis Le Bris’ side were beaten 3-1 away to Lille. A late brace from Edon Zhegrova was enough to claim the points for the home team against a Lorient side reduced to ten men.
Marseille’s form has slipped in recent weeks, with two wins in their last five league games and two disappointing draws in their last three games. OM were 2-0 up at home to Strasbourg before conceding two late goals and drawing the game last month. They then put an end to Reims’ unbeaten run with a 2-1 win away to Will Still’s side but could only follow that up with a draw at home to Montpellier last Friday.
The last time these two met was only three months ago at the Stade Velodrome. Terem Moffi, now on loan at Nice, opened the scoring for Lorient before goals from former Arsenal duo Sead Kolasinac and Alexis Sanchez turned the game around. Jordan Veretout’s second-half strike sealed a 3-1 win for the home side.