Direct competitors for places of honor, theMarseille Olympic and AS Monaco have been similar in many ways in recent weeks. By their inconstancy, already. Able to shine in high-stakes matches, these two big names have been the two tormentors of Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 this season, but they have also tripped over each other on several occasions. On the European scene, on the other hand, OM and ASM fulfill their part of the contract with a comfortable place in the middle of the table to finish in the top 24 of the regular phase and reach the play-offs of the Champions League.
This Sunday’s shock in Ligue 1 therefore promises to be indecisive and spectacular. While the physical state of Paul Pogba is still worrying in the ranks of ASM, OM will still count on its X factor in the person of Masson Greenwood. “He has enormous potential, I don’t see others in Europe, players of such a level,” enthused Roberto De Zerbi. He has the potential for a Ballon d’Or, it’s up to him to see if he wants to do everything to fight for this Ballon d’Or. In terms of the qualities that nature gave him, that his parents gave him, he is worthy of the Ballon d’Or. I am a demanding trainer, I expect more. I don’t want him to make hundred-meter runs, but to press with more intensity, to manage the ball better when we are in difficulty. I said it in Brussels, that he does not take too many risks, that he keeps it to allow the bloc to rise. The important thing is that he understands in three or four years, and says to himself: “Ah, that’s why coach De Zerbi was bothering me”. Afterwards when we see the second goal he scored in Brussels, the Drogba-style heel kick to deceive the defender, when we see how easily he put the ball in to beat a 2.10 m goalkeeper (Kjell Scherpen, 2.06 m)… I turn around on my bench and I say to myself (in French): “Fuck, wow…” » Words which tend to confirm, if necessary, that all eyes will still be on the top scorer in the championship.
The expected compositions
OM : Rulli – Pavard, Aguerd, Balerdi – Weah (or Murillo), Vermeeren, Höjbjerg, Emerson – Greenwood, Aubameyang, Paixão.
Monaco : Hradecky – Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Caio Henrique – Camara, Zakaria – Akliouche, Minamino, Golovin – Balogun.
Where to watch the match?
This Ligue 1 match between Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco will be broadcast on Ligue 1 +, this Sunday, from 8:45 p.m.
