Olympique de Marseille will host Jean-Pierre Papin’s Racing Club de Lens at 21:00 on Sunday. It’s a chance for the Olympiens to escaper the relegation zone and at the same time get their season back on track.
OM-LENS
Round 11 of L1
Sunday
at 21:00 (Canal+)
referee: Stéphane Bré
Live text & audio on OM.net
The return of Jean-Pierre Papin to the Vélodrome, this time as a manager, and the first home match for new OM manager Eric Gerets have taken the limelight in the lead up to the match. But at kick off, all eyes will be on the 3 points up for grabs in this important match.
So the time seems right, after a fortnight’s international break, “to get our season under way,” in the words of Mathieu Valbuena.
“Unfortunately, the league actually started a couple of months ago and for me it doesn’t matter whether it’s my first match at the Vélodrome or our real start to the season,” says Eric Gerets. “We’re only after one thing: victory, because the league is our priority. And we need to quickly jump a few places.”
With just 2 players away on national team duty during the international break (Mamadou Niang and Taye Taiwo), the Olympiens made the most of their time to assimilate the new manager’s philosophy. “I worked on the details that needed improvement,”notes Eric Gerets, “because we saw at Liverpool that the players know how to move the ball around and have strong tactical discipline. I’ve also spoken a lot about my philosophy and I hope it has sunk in.”
taking a look at the bottom of the table, OM (18th) and Lens (15th) are only separated by 2 points. So OM has a chance, should they take the 3 points, not only to escape the relegations zone, but to leapfrog their adversary on the night.
“A win would get us back on the right track and also help us keep up with the teams above us,” recognises Mamadou Niang,
“our results in L1 have been bad, we need to win.”
THE MARATHON BEGINS
The reception of Lens marks the beginning of 3 long weeks for Olympique de Marseille. Indeed, from October 21 to November 10, the Marseillais will play 7 matches including the double-header against Porto in the UEFA Champions League and the Coupe De Ligue clash with Metz. During a tough period, given their ranking, OM risks being shown up, but on the other hand, matches in rapid succession like this will give the players a chance to build their confidence, should they string some results together, or allow doubt to creep in should the results not go OM’s way. Eric Gerets seems to want to develop a regular first-team line-up. “If it’s not necessary, I see no reason to change the side. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
As for the players, like Mamadou Niang, they are taking the matches one after another. “We’ll do everything we can to beat Lens and then we’ll have time to think about Porto.”
THE PAPIN EFFECT
On the back foot after a catastrophic August, the Sang et Or have roundly improved since the departure of Guy Roux and the arrival of the former OM striker, Jean-Pierre Papin, as manager. Lens was winless under the former Auxerre man while since JPP took over, the RCL players have won twice (against Nancy and Auxerre). They also had a good draw against Toulouse, which saw them rise out of the relegation zone.
“The team moves well, they’re daring and they take risks, as teams managed by former strikers often do. But they have their weaknesses, and it’s up to us to exploit them,” underlines Eric Gerets.
The black spot for Lens remains their attack. With just 5 goals scored so far, it’s the worst in the league. However, Dindane, Akalé, Monterrubio and Pieroni are known as very talented players.
THE OM SQUAD
Keepers: Mandanda, Hamel
Defenders: Zubar, Bonnart, Givet, Rodriguez, Faty
Milieux: Ziani, Valbuena, Cana, Cheyrou, Zenden, Oruma, M'Bami
Attackers: Ayew, Niang, Cissé, Arrache
THE LENS SQUAD
Keepers: Le Crom, Runje
Defenders: Aubey, Bisevac, Coulibaly, Demont, Laurenti
Milieux: Si. Keita, Kovacevic, Lacourt, Mangane, Sablé
Attackers: Monterrubio, Pollet, Akalé, Boukari, Dindane, Monnet-Paquet, Pieroni
à lire également
-
22/10 - OM 1-0 Lens
Jean-Pierre Papin’s return to the Stade Vélodrome and Eric Gerets’ first home match at the helm of OM almost overshadowed the match itself in the preceding days. Here’s a closer look at the night both managers had.
-
20/10 - OM-Lens
Their current form, their tactical approach and the players to watch. Everything you need to know about Jean-Pierre Papin’s side before OM-Lens.
-
19/10 - OM-Lens
OM hasn’t played at home for over a month. Against Lens, the Olympiens happily return to their stadium while Eric Gerets can’t wait for his first match there.
-
19/10 - OM-Lens
The hero of Anfield discusses the preparation for the Lens match and Eric Gerets’ philosophy. “We have to redeem ourselves at home,” he said, still waiting for OM’s first league win of the season at the Vélodrome.
-
18/10 - OM-Lens
After a fortnight’s break, Gaël Givet is adamant that OM “must win” at the Vélodrome against Lens, having prepared well with “rigour and good humour”.
-
17/10 - OM-Lens
For Sunday’s OM-Lens match, Jean-Pierre Papin will make his return to the Vélodrome, this time as a manager, a first in his managerial career. It’s chance to take a look back on his exceptional career.
-
16/10 - OM-Lens
A product of the OM Youth Academy and a former OM defender, Fabien Laurenti has been at Lens since 2007. He is wary of the Olympiens because “they have had some excellent performances in the Champions League”, he notes ahead of his trip to the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday.
-
16/10 - OM-Lens
Training started again this week with all eyes on the match against Lens on Sunday. After a long break, the Olympiens will take on a harrowing schedule of 7 matches in 3 weeks.
