Marseille-Lyon, an expected duel between two sick Olympics

It’s a shock, a real one, in Ligue 1. Marseille-Lyon is usually one of the most anticipated matches of the season between two of the presumed leaders of French football. Both clubs have already experienced too many shocks in barely three months of competition. Both OM and OL are going through a difficult time, or even worse. And this clash on Sunday October 29 (8:45 p.m.) between the two Olympics in crisis can offer everything: a welcome intensive treatment like a new blow.

However, patients from Marseille and Lyon are accustomed to the turbulence often associated with major clubs. Rarely have they reached such levels so quickly in the season. Both OM and OL have changed coaches, placing their trust in two former teammates in the Italian selection, Gennaro Gattuso and Fabio Grosso. The first painfully tries to get a Marseille team out of the recovery room. In the Rhône, on the other hand, we are sinking further, without being able to treat the numerous ills which have been gnawing at Olympique Lyonnais for months already.

Latest episode to date, Fabio Grosso canceled training on Tuesday after vainly trying to find out which players in his group were speaking out in the media, after an outing by former player turned consultant Jérôme Rothen on RMC. “I’m not going to say the names because it could put them in difficulty, but Fabio Grosso is already in the hot seat. There is hardly a player who can ‘see’ him anymore.“One more storm in the midst of a wave of bad results: no victory after nine days, three tiny points gleaned, and a worrying bottom place in Ligue 1.

The attack at half mast and the absent defense (respectively the last and penultimate in Ligue 1) are however far from being the only torments of the Gones. In addition to the sporting slump, there is turmoil behind the scenes. The handover following the takeover of the club by John Textor and the removal of historic president Jean-Michel Aulas turned into a governance crisis. While Lyon’s accounts are seeing red (99 million euros loss in 2022-2023 announced OL Groupe on Wednesday October 25), the American is struggling to convince both with its sporting strategy and its communication.

“If Ligue 2 can be a reality? The question is comicalhe replied after his team’s last setback on Sunday October 22 against Clermont. This team is not at risk of relegation. Relegated teams in any country or league don’t play like we did tonight. We are not looking behind, we are looking ahead in the rankings.“In any case, the electroshock is long overdue.

“There is time to improve, to do things, but there is not much time to take the points.”

The coach of Olympique Lyonnais, Fabio Grosso

Friday press conference

In Marseille, the emergency has subsided at the same time as the tension has eased a little. The breaking point between the management of OM and its supporters took with it the short-lived coach Marcelino, and could have led to the departure of president Pablo Longoria. The Spaniard is still in charge and has chosen the volcanic Gennaro Gattuso to bring more life to the Marseille game, unconvincing during the first days despite a promising transfer window.

The Vélodrome is certainly less bored, it now remains to convert it into results. The Marseillais have won only one of their last six Ligue 1 matches, at home against Le Havre (3-0). A success on which they failed to capitalize, losing in Nice on October 21.

Valentin Rongier’s teammates are in a better position in the European Cup (3-1 victory against AEK Athens on Thursday, and at the top of group B), but their health remains fragile. “Lyon is stimulated, but we too, we play at home, we want to wininsisted Gennaro Gattuso at a press conference on Saturday. OL have a lot to play for, but so do we. If we think we’re going against the bottom team in Ligue 1, we’re going to lose for sure.“A setback at home against a rival could not be in worse shape, and the disaster would rear its ugly head again.