Friday nights focus is once again on the fight for a European place. Last Friday saw OM fight back from 1 - 0 down to beat Reims 1 - 3. Once again Jorge Sampaoli‘s attacking brand of football is paying off. His team have scored 3 goals in the last three games. More importantly the Argentine manager got his first away win since taking over. The players seem to be responding well to Sampaoli’s attacking philosophy and enjoying their football. Dimitri Payet seems to be rejuvenated and showing the form that made Marseille persist in resigning him from West Ham. The former French international scored twice and made one for Milik against Reims to keep the pressure on Lens in the battle for 5th place. Sampaoli will also be delighted by another positive display from young defender Pol Lirola. After scoring a brace two weeks ago against Lorient, the Spaniard impressed again particularly with his strong forward run and pass for Payet to equalise. The young Catalan has performed well enough to become a regular starter under Sampaoli. Surely Marseille will want to make Lirola’s loan from Fiorentina a permanent signing in the summer. He has been versatile enough to be used in different positions and formations effectively; on the right side of a three man defence, right back in a back four or five, at right midfield or a wing back in a five man midfield. Lirola himself expressed a desire to stay after the Lorient game so it will be up to Marseille President Pablo Longoria to ensure the deal gets done.
The visitors to the Velodrome this evening are a Strasbourg side who have just one win in five games. Les Coureurs (The Racers) lie 15th in the table and a loss here could make them uncomfortably close to the 18th relegation play off place. Despite their poor season Strasbourg do have some good players. Their strike partnership of Ludovic Ajorque and Habib Diallo have 21 league goals between them this season. Veteran midfielder Dimitri Lienard is not having the season he'd want but he is a clever player with great delivery, particularly from set pieces, so could be effective coming from the bench. These players should cause Marseille's erratic defence problems.
L'OM are on a high though, scoring lots of goals with five wins in seven games. The incentive to go 5th, above Lens, at least temporarily will be strong. With Lens playing at Paris on Saturday the Phoenicians will hope they are in the guaranteed Europa League place at the end of the weekend. Les Marseillais should have too much for Les Alsaciens.
One to watch: Dimitri Payet Marseille The veteran attacker is having a new lease of life under Manager Jorge Sampaoli. He scored two and made an assist in last week's win at Reims and is forming a good partnership with striker Arkadiusz Milik.
Frenchfooty prediction: Marseille 3 - Strasbourg 1
Marseille v Strasbourg kicks off at 2000 Friday 30th April and is live on BT Sport 3.
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