Montpellier vs Marseille preview - Bielsa admits counter concerns

Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa has warned there must be no repeat of the mistakes against the counter-attack which have cost his side dearly at times this season.

The Ligue 1 leaders suffered a shock Coupe de France exit to fourth-tier Grenoble in midweek, drawing 2-2 in 90 minutes and 3-3 after extra time before losing on penalties, and Bielsa drew parallels with the early-season defeat to this Friday's opponents Montpellier.

"The matches against Montpellier and Grenoble have points in common," he said at a press conference broadcast on om.net.

"On each occasion, we have been hurt by counter-attacks, our defensive response has been disorganised. We must not repeat that on Friday.

"In football there are no guarantees. You can never make promises. But I am certain about one thing: every match we play, we are capable of winning. We have to show that on Friday."

August 17's 2-0 loss to MHSC is one of only four league defeats in the first half of the season, and the only blemish on an otherwise 100 per cent record at the Stade Velodrome. That has left Marseille top of the table on 41 points, two clear of Lyon with rivals Paris St Germain a further point back.

Full-back Benjamin Mendy is determined to finish the job and said: "We are autumn champions and we will do all we can to conserve that position. It would be an enormous thing for everyone in Marseille."

Montpellier coach Rolland Courbis spoke in the affirmative when asked if he felt OM could complete that task.

"Yes, they have all they need," he said at a press conference broadcast on his club's website.

"Look at the calendar of Paris St Germain and the calendar of Olympique de Marseille. (OM) don't play in the Champions League or Europa League, they don't play in the Coupe de France or the Coupe de la Ligue.

"This schedule allows a coach like Bielsa to play with 14 or 15 players, with one match a week.

"Outside Paris, who else? Lyon could maybe take the title. Monaco (in fifth), I think it's a bit late and they have the same schedule as Paris."

That sparse schedule will certainly help Marseille while key men Andre Ayew and Nicolas N'Koulou are at the African Nations Cup with Ghana and Cameroon respectively.

Ayew's absence on top of Romain Alessandrini's ankle injury means OM are set to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation on Friday, with striker Andre-Pierre Gignac supported by Michy Batshuayi, Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin.

Like all matches in France's top two divisions this weekend, the game at La Mosson will be preceded by a minute's silence to honour the victims of Wednesday's gun attack on the office of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Twelve people were killed in the attack and both Mendy and Bielsa conducted their press conferences behind a sign reading "Je Suis Charlie" - the slogan, meaning "I Am Charlie", under which support for the victims has mounted on social media.

A subdued-looking Bielsa's press conference started with the victims honoured by a minute's standing applause from the coach, his interpreter, the media in attendance and a club press officer after the latter announced: "We are all Charlie."

"Nothing can justify death," said Bielsa while Mendy added: "A big thought to the friends and families (of the victims).

"The head remains focused on football. It's something very serious but you have to concentrate on your job."

Montpellier also posted a graphic on Twitter which read: "Le MHSC est (is) Charlie."