A few hours before the clash between
Marseille Olympic and the
RC Lensattention is not only focused on the northern adversary. In Marseille, it is above all the probable composition which stirs up discussions. A notable absentee, a face that the Vélodrome has become accustomed to applauding, would not appear in the starting eleven. A decision full of meaning, taken by
Roberto DeZerbiand which already looks like a broader strategic choice than this simple Ligue 1 meeting.
A strong choice from De Zerbi
This player is
Mason Greenwood. The Englishman, one of the most decisive elements since his arrival, would be preserved from the start in order to be 100% for the next European match against Bruges, a key match in the race for the play-offs. From there, the Marseille eleven takes on another dimension:
Geronimo Rulli in the goals; a three-way defense composed of
Facundo Medina,
Nayef Aguerd And
Leonardo Balerdi ; an environment articulated around
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
and and the new defector Quinten Timber.
In front,
Amine Gouiri takes on a new tenure, while
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starts on the bench. On the sides,
Ethan Nwaneri And
Hamed Traore are aligned at the entrance.
Europe in the back of my mind
This eleven confirms a trend: the European Cup weighs heavily in De Zerbi’s decisions. Faced with Lens, OM’s recent bête noire, the Italian technician seems to accept the idea of managing the organizations rather than betting everything on the championship. Even
Benjamin Pavardalthough suspended for Bruges, is left to rest, proof that the hierarchy of priorities is clear.
For supporters, the message may surprise, or even annoy. The last home outings, notably against Nantes and Liverpool, have left their mark. A success against Lens would, however, allow us to come back to seven points behind the Parisian leader and maintain, at least symbolically, the idea of a final sprint.
There remains an unknown factor: is De Zerbi really sacrificing this match, or is he anticipating a collective performance capable of masking these strong absences? If OM responds, the choice will be welcomed. Otherwise, this assumed bet risks fueling the debate well beyond the final whistle.
