Ligue 1 ends August with a bang as OM face Lyon
It's the latest edition of the always-testy "Olimpico" in Ligue 1 McDonald's tomorrow, as Olympique de Marseille takes on Olympique Lyonnais with the latter hoping to maintain their perfect start to the season -- get the latest with our preview.
No Mikautadze, no party?
Along with Strasbourg and leaders Paris Saint-Germain, the hosts are one of only three teams to get their Ligue 1 McDonald's season off to a perfect start, having recorded victories over Lens and Metz. However, one player who has been key to those results, Georges Mikautadze, will not be available for this encounter, with reports linking him with a move away. The Georgia international has sparkled to date, but with the club still under financial duress, his sale may be necessary to please the DNCG.
In his place, young Czech international Adam Karabec, who scored off the bench last weekend, is likely to lead the line, one of several young players who have joined this summer. Despite a young and inexperienced squad, the team can draw on the likes of captain Corentin Tolisso and defender Clinton Mata, who spoke pre-match to underscore that the club's tumultuous summer has only served to strengthen the squad's resolve: "We must seek the resources we need by showing even greater solidarity. The events of this summer have brought the group closer together. We must continue to find strength together." That strength will be imperative to a result tomorrow in what will surely be a closely-fought affair.
The Olympico has arrived đ pic.twitter.com/WFOx8vsj5q
â Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 29, 2025
A place for TraorĂ?
Marseille have been one of the league's busiest teams in the mercato, adding the likes of Timothy Weah, Angel Gomes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and more, and they've stayed busy into this week, adding Hamed Junior Traoré from Bournemouth this week. Having spent last season on loan with Auxerre, where the Ivorian hit double figures in the league and has now upped sticks for the VélodrÎme and could be a contender for the eleven.
Aside from his arrival, of course, the elephant in the room remains Adrien Rabiot, who is still with the team, but not in the squad for tomorrow as he and the club look to repair their relationship following the midfielder's dressing room bust-up with Jonathan Rowe. Speaking pre-match, manager Roberto de Zerbi averred that the dispute is not of his making, but between Rabiot and the club, saying, "I advised him to go to the club and apologize for the actions he took in Rennes. Because of those around him, his words were amplified. That's the only advice I gave him. He didn't follow my advice. Now it's between him and the club."
With no movement in that regard, the Italian will again opt for the same 4-2-3-1 which was so successful against Paris FC in a 5-2 win last weekend as he waits for the returns of summer arrivals Igor PaixĂŁo and Facundo Medina.
Predicted lineups:
Olympique Lyonnais (4-2-3-1): Descamps; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhaté, Abner (or Tagliafico); Tessmann, Morton; Sulc, Tolisso, Fofana; Karabec
Olympique de Marseille (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Murillo, Egan-Riley, Balerdi, Garcia; HĂžjberg, Gomes; Greenwood, Harit, Gouiri; Aubameyang
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