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Preview: Shorthanded Lens welcome Marseille

After a cracking start to Matchday 12, including a 3-2 thriller between AS Monaco and Stade Brestois in the Principality, Saturday in Ligue 1 McDonald's is shaping up to be more of the same with Racing Club de Lens hosting Olympique de Marseille. The game pits a Lens side who finished second in 2022/23 against a Marseille team who did the same in the previous season. Both are under different managers since then, and have had a bumpy path at times this season but also boast a level of individual talent capable of turning a match on its head at a moment's notice, making this encounter one to watch.
E. DEVIN
Published on 11/23/2024 at 02:00
2-minute read
Lens' Neil El Aynaoui will be a key part of the hosts' midfield.

A defence under duress

Under Will Still, Lens are still getting their feet under the table, even as the new manager has kept faith with former boss Franck Haise's breakneck 3-4-3. After a frustrating elimination from the UEFA Europa Conference League, Le Sang et Or have become to come to grips with the league, and have lost just twice. They also boast the league's best defence, something that is sure to be tested this evening. 

Tested not just because of their opponents' attacking prowess but because of their absences. Both Abdukodir Khusanov and Jonathan Gradit are suspended for this encounter, meaning Still will have to deploy the little-used Malang Sarr in defence. His options are also limited in attack, where Wesley Saïd and Martín Satriano are also unavailable. M'Bala N'Zola is expected to start, but the shape of the front three is still up for debate as Lens look to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents.

A needed response

Marseille are third in the league ahead of Saturday's action, but that doesn't mean it's been smooth sailing in Roberto De Zerbi's maiden season. Indeed, the club have won just two of their last six matches, having been humbled by Paris Saint-Germain and shackled by Strasbourg. Despite Mason Greenwood being the league's second-leading scorer, those losses have been damning indeed, while Auxerre's 3-1 win at the Vélodrôme before the break is of a similar ilk. 

In this match, while in-form Adrien Rabiot will hope to translate his form for France to the club, the visitors will also have questions in defence, as Lilian Brassier has been left out here, and Quentin Merlin is just working his way back to fitness, while Derek Cornelius and Pol Lirola are both not fit, forcing l'OM to again play a makeshift defence, something which may yet give the hosts hope in the face of their own absentees. 

Predicted lineups:

RC Lens (3-4-3): Samba; Sarr, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, El Aynaoui, Diouf, Machado; Sotoca, N'Zola, Thomasson (or Fulgini) 

Olympique de Marseille (4-3-3): Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Kondogbia, Merlin; Rabiot, Højberg, Rongier; Greenwood, Maupay (or Wahi), Rowe (or Henrique) 

Read more:

>> PSG seal fifth straight win against Toulouse

>> Akliouche's brace powers Monaco past Brest

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