Victorious for the first time this season in Caen, Olympique de Marseille is looking to stick to their winning ways in front of its home fans when Nice come to the Stade Vélodrome on Wednesday.
OM-NICE
Wednesday at 18:30 (Canal+)
Live text and audio on OM.net
Last Saturday the Olympiens recorded their first win of the season. In Caen, they scored at the right times: before the break and just afterwards. In scoring 2 goals, they killed the game off and gave the Normans little chance of staging a comeback, despite the scoreline narrowing in time added on.
OM had been waiting for this win since the beginning of the season. And now that it has been won, the Olympiens’ confidence is growing. “The win in Caen freed us up, it took a weight off our shoulders,” claims Gaël Givet, “the most important thing for our confidence is to get the 3 points. So now we’ll play more freely be it at home or on the road. We want to show that we’re finally on track this season.” “We need to be confident to work calmly and effectively. Nice is an important match,” adds Laurent Bonnart.
Albert Emon’s men want to affirm their victory from the Stade d’Ornano with another win against Nice, on Wednesday. “If we win, we will be able to say t ourselves that the team just needed some time to adapt but that now the league season is really under way,” says an ambitious Albert Emon.
But Frédéric Antonetti’s side is also in need of points – they are coming off 2 scoreless home draws in a row. The Aiglons are in the tough position of having to chase points away from home.”Nice is a team of fighters with some strong offensive assets like Koné, Ederson, Bamogo and Job» ,” cautions Gaël Givet.
After the injury to Cédric Carrasso, who has been ably replaced by Steve Mandanda, who will be making his debut at the Vélodrome, OM has come up against a second obstacle: the injury to Djibril Cissé. He will be sorely missed, as much in the dressing room as on the pitch. “With the form he was in, he was 1000% competitive,” says Emon, “but the others will make an extra effort. Mamadou Niang will replace him”.
And it takes on a greater importance considering the Olympiens’ next match, in the capital. “Getting the 3 points would be reassuring before the trip to Paris,” concludes Albert Emon.
Indeed, OM hasn’t even conceded a point at home to the Aiglons since season 1984-85. That’s 31 years that the Marseillais have been undefeated against Nice at the Vélodrome. On Wednesday, they’ll be looking to rack p their 13th successive win. Could the number 13 bring good luck?
This season, however, Nice has scored 4 goals in 5 matches; there have been 4 different (Hognon, Ederson, Koné and Bamogo).
Defenders: Taiwo, Bonnart, Givet, Rodriguez, Faty, Zubar
Midfielders: Cana, Cheyrou, Ziani, Nasri, M'Bami, Zenden, Valbuena
Attackers: Ayew, Niang, Moussilou
Defenders: Apam, Barul, Hognon, Kanté, Rool, Scaramozzino
Midfielders : Balmont, Diakité, Echouafni, Ederson, Hellebuyck, Traoré
Attackers: Bamogo, Job, Koné, Modeste
OM’s record for hosting Nice: 29 wins, 7 draws and 3 losses.
OM-NICE ON OMTV
Live pre-match at 17:30
Live post-match at 20:15
Match shown in full from midnight
OM-NICE ON OM.NET
Live text, audio and photos from 18:15
Analysis, reactions photos and quotes after the match
Videos: Reactions then exclusive extended highlights from midnight
