Preview: In-form Strasbourg, Marseille to clash at Vélodrôme
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Matchday 18 of the Ligue 1 McDonald's season will conclude with what is shaping up to be a cracking affair at the Stade Vélodrôme in Marseille, pitting the hosts against an upstart (and in-form) Strasbourg side. Read our preview to learn more about the big match.
A narrow escape in the cup
Both teams enter the match coming off of midweek Coupe de France matches. Marseille were able to battle back against LOSC Lille, but fell to Les Dogues on penalties, while Racing would advance against amateurs Thaon, but their largely rotated side were taken to penalties by the fifth-tier team. Now likely refreshed, Liam Rosenior's young Racing side will be eager to keep up their good form -- the eastern side have won their last five matches in all competitions, with Emanuel Emegha back fit and firing and Andrey Santos bossing things in midfield.
Along with those two, Dilane Bakwa has also come to the fore of late, the young winger looking on pace for double digits with five already. Speaking pre-match, he reflected on both the reverse fixture -- a hard-fought home win -- and what to expect tomorrow evening, saying, “The Vélodrome is a special stadium, the atmosphere is incredible. It's going to be tough. The fans will push them on. But for us, these matches motivate us. We're going to do everything to bring something back."
🔜 Next stop Marseille! 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/73WMnqjVJC
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) January 18, 2025
revenge on their minds?
As for the hosts, despite their midweek disappointment, they're still as dangerous and in-form a side as there is in Ligue 1. Winners of six of seven before defeat against Lille, their recent shift to a back three has been impressive indeed, a tactical tweak that has helped get the best out of the team in an attacking sense, involving Adrien Rabiot in a more advanced role and helping Mason Greenwood -- named December's Player of the Month -- find his best form as well.
Speaking pre-match manager Roberto de Zerbi lauded the forward, saying of his progress, "I'm very happy, Mason Greenwood has improved a lot. He has becomes a 360-degree player in a game. The Velodrome also likes him. He's a complete player and is reliable." With both Bakwa and Greenwood showing their qualities and the teams in top form we could be in for a thrilling evening of football.
Predicted lineups:
Olympique de Marseille (3-4-3): Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Koné; Henrique, Nadir, Højberg, Merlin; Greenwood, Maupay, Rabiot
RC Strasbourg (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Doué, Sarr, Doukouré, Moreira; Santos, Diarra; Bakwa, Lemerechal, Nanasi; Emegha
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