Marseille vs Monaco - Marseille confident they can disrupt Monaco's Ligue 1 title challenge

Posted Saturday, January 14, 2017 by PA

Marseille believe they can disrupt Monaco's Ligue 1 title push and continue their own charge up the table when the south-coast rivals clash on Sunday evening.

After a rocky start to the campaign, four successive league wins before Christmas have revived confidence in the Marseille ranks.

They sit a long way behind second-placed Monaco though, with 12 points dividing the sides heading into the match at the Stade Velodrome.

Part of the reason for the gulf between the sides was Monaco's 4-0 victory over Marseille at the Stade Louis II in November.

But manager Rudi Garcia insists that result is an irrelevant factor ahead of the rematch, particularly seeing that Marseille have not lost a home league game since last March.

"The dynamic is completely different," Garcia said. "When we went to Monaco they were in fantastic form and putting four goals past everyone, while we were in a state of progress but finding belief in our game.

"Now Monaco remain a strong team but the dynamic is different. And we'll be at the Stade Velodrome which changes things too."

Garcia will select grieving striker Bafetimbi Gomis in his squad. The former France international's father died this week.

"He has a great strength of character but it's still a difficult time," Garcia said. "He'll be involved and I think there'll be a small extra motivation for him and the team."

Marseille will be without midfielder Lassana Diarra, who Garcia expects to move on before the transfer window closes.

In his pre-match press conference, Garcia refused to discuss Marseille's reported interest in re-signing Dimitri Payet from West Ham, other than to say players must respect contracts.

France star Payet this week rocked the Hammers by telling them he wants to leave and refusing to play against Crystal Palace.

Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim considers Marseille a threat to his team's ambitions.

The team from the principality have scored 56 goals in 19 league games this term, a stunning return, and Jardim wants his players to kick on following their Christmas break.

But Marseille's home record suggests Monaco will not have it all their own way.

Jardim said in a press conference shown on Monaco's website: "It'll be a difficult match against a big club with good players.

"When we beat them here they already had good players. They're the same players, maybe with a bit more confidence.

"We'll try to play without any errors to get the three points in a difficult stadium.

"I want to keep the same dynamic with a small tactical change."