Ligue 1 Preview: Marseille – Bordeaux

Investing For Growth

Olympique de Marseille have invested heavily this summer, in order to bring some silverware to the title-hungry hoards that populate the tribunes of the great Stade Velodrome. It has been over a decade and a half since OM, guided by a goal from Basile Boli, lifted the European Cup in 1993, and that is something that head coach Didier Deschamps desperately wants to change.

‘DD’ was an integral member of the side that reached Europe’s pinnacle against Milan in Munich. Perhaps he will see the fact that les Phoceens have been pinned with the Rossoneri in the group stages of the Champions League as an omen that better things are around the corner.

Sure, Marseille aren’t going to be challenging for Europe’s top prize in all likelihood, but there is little stopping them becoming major protagonists in what promises to be one of the most exciting Ligue 1 title races in recent memory.

While Olympique Lyonnais were going out and arming themselves to the teeth with the likes of Lisandro Lopez, Bafetimbi Gomis, Michel Bastos and Aly Cissokho this summer, Deschamps was piecing together a far more defensively-minded transfer campaign.

Lucho Gonzalez, a midfield general of some repute, has been acquired to act at the key pivot in the center of the field, with a cool €18 million shelled out to prise him away from Porto. Other well known faces have been lured for considerably less, with veteran Spaniard Fernando Morientes bringing additional strength to an already formidable attack and Gabriel Heinze taken from Real Madrid on a free transfer.

The Argentine will become a keystone of the defense, combining with the physically imposing Souleymane Diawara in an all new central defensive partnership. The defensive credentials of the midfield have also been looked at and altered. Edouard Cisse and Stephane Mbia have both been brought to the club at considerable expense, as Deschamps seeks to halt the stream of goals that were shipped last season, attempting to make it a trickle instead.

To date, this has proven an effective tactic, with OM having conceded just one goal in their opening three games, although there can be few doubts that their attacking fluidity has suffered just a little as a result.

Sixteen And Counting

Facing les Phoceens on Sunday will be arguably Europe’s most under-rated side. Heralded little because of their lack of true household name, Girondins de Bordeaux’s ascent to the summit of the French game has been steady over the last two seasons, with head coach Laurent Blanc building his side on a wonderful team spirit and a group of highly efficient players.

Of course, some magic is required to win any title, and the man that provided that for Bordeaux is Yoann Gourcuff, an irrepressible offensive midfielder acquired, initially on loan, from Milan last season. Taking advantage of a clause written into the 23-year-old’s loan contract, not to mention a cool response from the hierarchy of his club in Italy, les Girondins moved quickly to land the burgeoning midfielder for a fee in the region of €13m this summer.

The deal is already paying dividends. Gourcuff, who's maturity and ability got better and better throughout the season, dug his side out of many a hole last term, and he already has an impressive four goals and two assists just three games into this season – quite simply phenomenal figures.

But a far more breathtaking statistic is that Bordeaux have won all of their last 16 competitive matches, including 13 in Ligue 1 play. Team after team has been roundly dismissed and even when they have not been playing well, they have found ways to emerge victorious.

They certainly haven’t found full throttle yet this term, but relatively average performances against Racing Club de Lens and Nice still ended in 4-1 and 4-0 victories respectively, indicating something about the tenacity and efficiency of the squad.

These characteristics will come in invaluable at the Stade Velodrome, where they will attempt to make it 17 wins from 17.

FORM

Marseille

DREW 1-1 (A) Stade Rennais (Ligue 1, Matchday 3, August 22)

WON 1-0 (H) Montpellier (Ligue 1, Matchday 2, August 16)

WON 2-0 (A) Grenoble Foot38 (Ligue 1, Matchday 1, August 8)

Bordeaux

WON 4-0 (H) Nice (Ligue 1, Matchday 3, August 23)

WON 3-2 (A) Sochaux (Ligue 1, Matchday 2, August 15)

WON 4-1 (H) Racing Club de Lens (Ligue 1, Matchday 1, August 9)

WON 2-0 (N) Guingamp (Trophee des Champions, July 25)

TEAM NEWS

Marseille

OM march forth into this game with a strong squad of players to select from.

Only Lucho Gonzalez is expected to miss out, while Bakary Kone is expected to start after overcoming a slight knee problem.

Stephane Mbia will be hoping to make his first start for his new side, probably replacing the more forward thinking Fabrice Abriel in the starting squad.

Probable Starting XI: Mandanda; Bonnart, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo; Cisse, Mbia, Cheyrou; Kone, Brandao, Niang

Bordeaux

Laurent Blanc’s side have been blessed with good health at the start of this campaign, after their physiotherapists were kept busy towards the conclusion of last season.

Jaroslav Plasil missed last weekend’s match against Nice due to a sore throat but will be hard pressed to claim his spot back from Jussie, who scored against les Aiglons.

Michael Ciani, who started last weekend for the first time, might have expected his physicality to be utilized on Sunday. However, he has picked up an ankle problem and is rendered doubtful. Marc Planus has a fractured hand but should play with a protective case.

Otherwise, les Girondins have no selection issues.

Probable Starting XI: Carrasso; Chalme, Henrique, Planus, Tremoulinas; Jussie, A. Diarra, Gourcuff, Wendel; Chamakh, Cavenaghi

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marseille

Much of the Marseille side has change, but one important constant has been Benoit Cheyrou, who has been positively excellent in the center of their midfield over the last year. The former Auxerre player joined OM in 2007 but is now starting to grow into a really vital player for the side. A box-to-box midfielder with seemingly boundless energy, he is an often under-rated figure and Laurent Blanc would do well to make special note of his presence.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s game-breaker is undoubtedly Yoann Gourcuff, and it’s quite simply impossible not to pick him as their one to keep an eye on in a fixture like this. Wonderfully creative and intelligent, the midfielder also has a wonderful propensity to score goals just when Bordeaux need them, and often just when they are looking most unlikely to come. A young man destined for greater things over the course of his career.

PREDICTION

It’s often easy to write off Bordeaux and underestimate them, but the statistics speak for themselves: this is not a team to take lightly. There is no danger of Marseille treating les Girondins with any measure of disrespect, but whether the newly forged side can match their opponents’ team spirit and togetherness must be considered highly doubtful. Still, they will be boosted by an electric atmosphere at the Stade Velodrome, and this should be enough to see them claim something.

Olympique de Marseille 1-1 Girondins de Bordeaux

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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