Nothing like a cup tie between two league leaders to whet the appetite ahead of the Coupe de France’s round of 64 fixtures on the first weekend of the new year.
CFA leaders Grenoble take on Ligue 1 surprise leaders Olympique de Marseille at the Stade des Alpes in what will promise to be an exciting, if not chilly fixture in the mountain region. Marcelo Bielsa may want to decide on sitting on something other than a drinks cooler this time…
But the Argentine coach will not want to take this fixture lightly. For Marseille, despite their irresistible league form, were unceremoniously dumped out of the Coupe de la Ligue at the first hurdle at the hands of Rennes. In a season with few commitments after failing to qualify for Europe, that represented a bit of concern for the club.
Still, there doesn’t seem to be an appetite to win the League Cup, having done so three times in a row. But the Coupe de France? You’d have to go back to 1989 to find OM’s last cup triumph. Incredibly, they remain the club with the most cup wins – 10 – despite 26 years of drought. If there is an insatiable appetite to be crowned Ligue 1 champions come May, the Marseillais will also be hungry to lift the famous cap at the Stade de France for the first time in a long time.
OM also have a point to prove, having not given serious attention to the cup in recent years (save for a predictable defeat at PSG in 2013). In fact, their last game in the competition remains arguably the worst moment in the club’s recent history – having lost an incredible encounter 4-5 to a Nice side missing several key players. Indeed, no side had scored 5 at the Velodrome in 34 long years. It represented a nadir, one that OM have since recovered emphatically.
But for Sunday’s hosts, the match represents a fine opportunity to test their skills against the best side in France currently, having impressed in the fourth division to date. However, it will serve as a reminder to the club at how far it has fallen in the last four and a half years. The last time these two faced in May 2010 – Marseille had won 2-0. Grenoble had been relegated, and Mamadou Niang lifted the Ligue 1 title that very evening in front of a raucous crowd. How times have changed.
OM will be without Romain Alessandrini, and likely to rotate – with Michy Batshuayi given another chance to shine, having done so in the 2-1 win over Lille before the break. Brice Samba may also be expected to get a run out in goal, replacing Steve Mandanda.
For OM, they will want to start 2015 with a bang, ahead of a tough January with key departures to the Africa Cup of Nations. They expect to be in the hat for the draw for the round of 32 come Monday morning.