Olympique de Marseille welcome Villarreal in the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League, this Thursday (9 p.m.). Here is the expected line-up for the Marseille club.
Three consecutive victories, a shower of goals and new smiles: the start of Jean-Louis Gasset Sarrst’s mandate is idyllic. Propelled onto the bench of Olympique de Marseille to succeed Gennaro Gattuso, the former assistant of Laurent Blanc has completely relaunched the Marseille club.
But its most serious test looms this Thursday evening, with the reception of Villarreal in Europa League, at the stage of the round of 16 of the competition. And as luck would have it, OM will come across the team of Marcelino, who was still the club’s coach at the start of the season.
OM-Villarreal, composition: Gasset’s great find
With which starting eleven? In the choice of men, there should be no major surprises. Gasset still has to deal with a host of absentees, from Gigot to Rongier, including Nadir, Murillo and Blanco. Onana, Garcia and Gueye are not qualified for this match and will also be missing.
It is in the choice of his animation that the OM coach seems to assume his convictions. Once again, a classic 4-3-3 is expected with a left attacking role for Aubameyang, called upon to support Ndiaye in false number 9. Sarr should complete the attack line in front of a Veretout-Kondogbia-Harit midfielder. In central defense, the Mbemba-Balerdi pair holds up, while Clauss and Merlin should start on the sides. Pau Lopez will hold his place in the goals.
The expected lineup for OM: Lopez – Clauss, Mbemba, Balerdi, Merlin – Veretout, Kondogbia, Harit – Sarr, Aubameyang, Ndiaye.
