Marseille vs Lyonnais preview - Fournier predicts decisive match

Posted Saturday, March 14, 2015 by PA

Lyon boss Hubert Fournier knows the outcome of Sunday's trip to Marseille could go a long way towards deciding the fate of both clubs this season.

Fournier's side currently top the Ligue 1 table by a point with Paris St Germain in hot pursuit and Marseille three points further back in third.

Victory for the visitors this weekend could significantly strengthen their hopes of lifting the title, while defeat would give the hosts hope of overhauling the two clubs ahead of them to claim the glory for themselves.

Fournier told the club's official website, www.olweb.fr: "It would be a great boost for L'OM as they are challenging for the title.

"Then, there is qualification for the Champions League to worry about, and then there is also the matter of whether or not Monaco will catch them.

"The pressure is undoubtedly on L'OM, but we go to Marseille needing to convert our victory at the Gerland (1-0 in October). It will be a difficult match against a team in good form with a raucous crowd backing them.

"Lyon have not lost to Monaco, or PSG, and then they avoid defeat to L'OM? That would stabilise our position. After that? The rest will become clear after this match."

The two teams head into a mouth-watering clash having won just three of the last 11 Ligue 1 games between them.

L'OM ended a run of four without a victory in emphatic style with a 6-1 demolition job at Toulouse last Friday evening, two days before Lyon claimed just their second three-point haul in six attempts by trouncing Montpellier 5-1 on their own park.

Marseille are currently six points clear of the chasing pack, although Monaco, who have a game in hand, are heading the race to reel in the top three and Marcelo Bielsa's men know any encouragement they provide could see that gap close rapidly.

They will be encouraged by their solid home form to date this season with only Montpellier and Caen to date this season having left Marseille with three points and just Reims claiming a draw there.

But Caen's 3-2 triumph, despite Andre Ayew and Andre-Pierre Gignac giving the hosts a 2-0 lead, came in their last fixture at the Velodrome on February 27 a fortnight on from Reims' 2-2 draw at the same venue.

For their part, Lyon, who will be without the injured Yoann Gourcuff, Clement Grenier, Gueida Fofana and Milan Bisevac, will be looking to complete a double over Marseille with Gourcuff's 65th-minute strike enough to secure a 1-0 win at the Stade de Gerland on October 26.