Marseille vs Lyonnais - Lyon's trip to Marseille has Champions League feel - Bruno Genesio

Posted Sunday, September 18, 2016 by PA

Coach Bruno Genesio believes Lyon's trip to Marseille will resemble a Champions League match.

Fourteenth plays eighth in Ligue 1 at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, but Genesio has high expectations.

"I'm expecting a match on a Champions League level and we'll need to step up to the plate in order to impose our game," he told his club's website.

"We need to be concentrated on our game and pay no attention to the atmosphere. It will be a fiery match but one that's very interesting to play.

"(Marseille) had a pretty agitated off-season but I think they handled it well. At Nice last week, they certainly didn't deserve to lose. I don't think OM are where they belong on the table."

Marseille were beaten 3-2 at Nice, meaning their win over Lorient before the international break remains their only one this season.

Lyon themselves have lost their last two league games, away to Dijon and at home to Bordeaux, but got back on track with a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in Europe on Wednesday.

OL's attacking options remain limited by the absence of Alexandre Lacazette, Nabil Fekir and Marseille old boy Mathieu Valbuena, though Fekir is in line to return for the midweek clash with Montpellier.

Genesio decided against signing Emmanuel Adebayor to fill the void and though recent acquisition Jean-Phillipe Mateta will travel with the squad, the 19-year-old appears unlikely to feature.

"He has just arrived and trained separately on Friday," said Genesio.

"He loves scoring goals but we have to give him time. He has a lot to learn before he can make a place for himself at the highest level (but) we're happy to have him."

In midfield, Maxime Gonalons begins a four-match ban.

Remy Cabella could return to the Marseille squad after a knee injury but Romain Alessandrini, Lassana Diarra, Abou Diaby, Alphousseyni Sane and Rod Fanni all remain sidelined.

Despite that, and such a mediocre start having unthinkably flirted with relegation last season, coach Franck Passi is eyeing an upset.

"We would love to give this gift to our supporters, to win against Lyon or another big team," he said.

"If the stadium is not full, I will be a bit disappointed. For several years, OM-Lyon matches have been on the level of OM-Paris (St Germain).

"They will come here as favourites for the match. They play in the Champions League, they have a team full of experienced players who have stayed with the team. We will try to be a very strong outsider."