A week after getting back on track with a good draw at Gerland, the Olympiens need to get back to winning ways against Nice on Sunday at the Vélodrome.

OM-NICE
29th round of L1 17/03 at 20:00 - Stade Vélodrome Referee: Stéphane Lannoy Live on Foot+ (delayed on OMtv from midnight)

“It’s starting to seem like a long time!” responded Samir Nasri to a question on how long it has been since OM’s last league victory (Jan 24, Ed.).
OM’s impatience to get back to winning ways is in response to an imperative: to build on the point they nabbed against Lyon, and in so doing confirm their move back towards the upper echelons of L1.
10 rounds from the end, four points separate the Olympiens from third place. Which is a merciful situation considering the poor run of form the Marseillais went through before their trip to Lyon. “We don’t have any time to lose. We have to perform,” is Albert Emon summed up his side’s situation.

Play our game and achieve our goal

Paris, Nantes and Lens are the most recent visitors to the Vélodrome. And they all left with one or three points. And OM with regrets.
The Marseillais have, however, dominated each of these matches. In vain. Playing one’s game and winning the match don’t always go hand in hand. So OM will have to study hard before Saturday nigh and the visit of a Nice team who would settle for a draw without hesitation.
“We’ll have to pack the defence, to put up a screen! And try to fire a few shots from time to time,” predicted Nice’s Olivier Echouafni metaphorically to his team.
So OM has been warned, and it’s up to them to manage the game well to come out on top.
“Sooner or later we’ll find the key to unlock their defence and score the winning goal,” announced Albert Emon.

Painful absences

Pagis suspended. Ribéry and Oruma recovering. OM isn’t at full strength for the derby. But it’s opponent isn’t much better off as several starters won’t make the trip (defender Apam and midfielders Vahirua and Ederson).

THE OM SQUAD Keepers: Carrasso, Hamel Defenders: Beye, Zubar, Cantareil, Taiwo, Civelli, Cesar Midfielders: Cana, Nasri, Olembe, M'Bami, Valbuena, Arrache Attackers: Cissé, Maoulida, Niang, Sergio

THE NICE SQUAD Keepers: Letizi, Lloris Defenders: Abardonado, Fanni, Gace, Kanté, Scotto, Varrault, Veigneau Midfielders: Balmont, Diakité, Echouafni, Larbi, Rool Attackers: Bellion, Camara, Koné, Laslandes