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Olympique de Marseille travels to Rennes for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, this Sunday (9:05 p.m.). Here is the expected line-up for the Marseille club.
Far from its objectives in Ligue 1, Olympique de Marseille has a card to play in the Coupe de France. The oldest competition represents the shortest path to access a European Cup, although it is not the most prestigious. The fact remains that Gennaro Gattuso’s men will have to give up a big piece to continue their journey since they are opposed this Sunday evening at Stade Rennais, for the most tempting poster of these round of 16 matches.
The infirmary empties for OM
A match that Gattuso still approaches with puzzles. Deprived of 7 players called up by their selections for the African Cup of Nations, the Italian technician must also deal with the hazards of injuries and the winter transfer window. The good news is that the infirmary is gradually emptying. “Kondogbia was missing who is not yet 100%, we will see tomorrow. Correa is back even if he still lacks rhythm. Garcia arrived. I want us to win tomorrow against Rennes. The group recovered well! “, Gattuso said at a press conference.
Can Kondogbia be started this Sunday? The hypothesis cannot be excluded. But no risks will be taken with the midfielder, whose presence will be important in the weeks to come. Gattuso, who deplored the departure of Renan Lodi, could also take advantage of this shock to launch new faces. Vitinha, announced on departure, could make one of his last appearances with the Marseille jersey. If the executives Aubameyang, Clauss or Gigot are expected, the number 2 goalkeeper Blanco could continue in goals after having been aligned at Thionville in the previous round (1-0).
“Obviously my goal is to impose myself and become number one, otherwise I won’t be here, explained Pau Lopez’s understudy. I give my all to be the best even if I don’t play. I want more… There is no frustration on my part, when I start my week it is because I can play on the weekend, Pau (Lopez) plays on the weekends, but I have wanna play. I decided to stay knowing that I was going to play less but with the motivation to play more…”
The expected lineup for OM : Blanco – Meïté, Gigot, Balerdi – Clauss, Kondogbia, Nadir, Veretout, Murillo – Vitinha, Aubameyang.
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Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.