OM-SOCHAUX : IT'S ALL ABOUT THE L1

21/03/08 - OM-Sochaux

Three days after their elimination from the Coupe de France at the hands of Carquefou, OM have to forget their disappointment and concentrate on the League. Three points will be necessary to keep in touch with Nancy.

First Division - Round 30
Saturday at 20h00 (Foot +)
Referee : Thierry Auriac
Live text & audio on OM.net

Marseille have two objectives that are inexricably linked for this game, take three points & forget about Carquefou. Marseille and Sochaux were both eliminated from the Coupe de France this week. OM by Carquefou, a CFA2 team, Sochaux by Lyon, the current French champions. For fans of OM, Sochaux is a team that in the space of a few months have left bad memories. Two defeats, one in the final of the Coupe de France (2-2, 4-5 after penalties) last May and one in the league last November (1-2).
OM,who are still sitting just behind Nancy, need the three points if they want to keep all their chances of winning a place in the Champions League. « We’re in the final straight. When you get to the last 10 games you can’t think strategy. It’s all about winning a maximum of points now  » declares OM’s captain, Lorik Cana. Injured for the games against Lens and Carquefou, Mathieu Valbuena, the new international, wants to turn things around  : «Now, the only objective that we have left is the League. We have to achieve our objective. We’ve had a good run of results at home. We have to keep that going and forget about the game against Carquefou. If we want to get into third place we have to turn things around. »

TICKETS
You can still buy tickets for OM-SOCHAUX, on OM.net (printable ticket), in all usual outlets and at the ground from 16h00.
OM know the predicament that Sochaux are in (18th in the L1) and point out their 3 month run of invincibility at the Vélodrome. « They are trying to avoid relegation, whilst we should try and continue the good run of form we’ve had at home  » continues Mathieu Valbuena.

Sochaux have had a good run of form away from home with victories over Toulouse (2-1)and Strasbourg (2-0). « If you look at home form since the start of the season I think OM are just about the best  » says Lorik Cana. « We’re playing at home with the public firmly behind us against a good team. We saw how they put Lyon in difficulty. It’s going to be a difficult game against a team that has found a bit of confidence but who are nevertheless at the bottom of the table. Quite frankly the only thing that counts is the victory  » concludes the Albanian international.

Louis Quesnot

THE SUPPORT OF THE VELODROME
With the public completely behind them, OM are on an impressive run of format the Vélodrome (their last defeat there was against Liverpool on the 11th of December). Will there elimination from the Coupe de France at the hands of Carquefou, a CFA2 team, change things? «We’ve never had a bad reception even when we were bottom. Of course the supporters are disappointed and I understand, as the expected us to go through. But they have always been behind us, at home and away. It’s up to us to show that we are worthy of their support » announces the OM captain.

DIFFERENT TANGENTS
Marseille, in 4th place, Sochaux in 18th. Looking at their positions in the League before round 30 doesn’t let us imagine that the two teams crossed paths already. After rounds 12 and 13 Sochaux were ahead of OM even though both teams were in the lower half of the table. Afterwards they went off on different tangents. « OM and FC Sochaux were pretty much in the same situation at the time of our first meeting this season, remembers Teddy Richert (our photo). But OM managed to react and pulled in a great number of points. We didn’t and are still in the bottom half of the table ».
Since their win at home against OM, Sochaux have only won 5 times compared to Marseille’s 10.
MARSEILLE GROUP
Goalkeepers : Mandanda, Carrasso
Defenders : Bonnart, Taiwo, Givet, Zubar, Faty, Krupoviesa
Midfielders : Cana, Cheyrou, M'Bami, Kaboré, Nasri, Valbuena, Zenden
Forwards : Akalé, Cissé, Grandin
SOCHAUX GROUP
Goalkeepers : Richert, Gavanon
Defenders : N'Daw, Afolabi, Jokic, Josse, Daf, Pichot, Perquis, Dramé
Midfielders : Pitau, Maurice-Belay, Dalmat, Isabey
Forwards : Grax, Erding, Traoré, Pancrate

OM-SOCHAUX ON OMTV
Live pre-match at 19h00
Live post-match at 21h50
Full game at midnight

OM-SOCHAUX ON OM.NET
Live text, audio & photos from 19h45
Analysis, reactions, photos post-match
Videos : Reactions and extended highlights at midnight

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