Dimitri Payet’s Olympique de Marseille head to LOSC on Sunday for what could ultimately prove to be a UEFA Champions League six-pointer.
LOSC – Olympique de Marseille 
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Marseille have started the season brightly, but concern was beginning to creep in after they lost consecutive games against Eintracht Frankfurt – in the UEFA Europa League – and then Olympique Lyonnais, who took Olympico honours with a 4-2 win last Sunday.
The south coast club got back to winning ways on Wednesday, but only just – Valère Germain scored with almost the last kick of the ball against RC Strasbourg Alsace in a game which looked destined to end 2-2.
‘Magnificent goal’
“It was a special case,” beamed coach Rudi Garcia at his post-match press conference. “The equaliser in the 90th minute was a burst of pride. At that moment the character of this crazy side came out. We were able to say ‘we’re at home, even with ten men we’ll try to win!’ and we did it with a magnificent goal from Valère.”
Watch: Highlights of Marseille’s thrilling last-minute win over Strasbourg!
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Whether OM can take that determination with them on the 600-mile journey north to Lille remains to be seen, though. Marseille have picked up ten of their 13 points at home this season, with their 3-2 win at AS Monaco in Week 4 their only victory on the road thus far.
Jordan Amavi was the player sent off against Strasbourg but he is expected to start at left-back on Sunday. Garcia’s hand is rather forced elsewhere in defence, though. Adil Rami has a torn thigh muscle and Rolando Achilles tendon problems, so Luiz Gustavo is expected to fill in as a makeshift centre-back once more.
Les Dogues finding their bite
Hosts LOSC had been leaders Paris Saint-Germain’s closest challengers at the start of the week, but a 1-0 loss to Girondins de Bordeaux on Wednesday saw Lyon and Marseille leapfrog them in the table.
Last year’s struggles – whereby Les Dogues secured their Ligue 1 Conforama survival on the penultimate day of the season – nonetheless seem distant, and Garcia’s opposite number Christophe Galtier is unconcerned.
Watch: LOSC kept out by the irrepressible Costil!
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“I told my players that I had nothing to blame them for,” he said. “They respected the gameplan. We had chances but we came across a French international goalkeeper. Costil was very good, very effective until the last minute. We deserved much better than this defeat.”
History favours OM
“We must accept it and quickly digest it. It’s never good to host Marseille having been defeated. But there is a loss and then there is a loss and I’m comforted by the players’ attitude.”
Rafael Leao is yet to feature for LOSC having signed from Sporting Lisbon in the summer due to an ankle injury, so Loïc Rémy is likely to lead the line with Rui Fonte rested.
Marseille won the last meeting between these two 5-1, and have not lost to LOSC since December 2013, when Nolan Roux grabbed a last-minute winner of his own in a 1-0 win at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Possible teams
LOSC: Maignan; Çelik, J. Fonte, Soumaoro, Ballo-Touré; Mendes, Xeka; Pépé, Ikoné, Bamba; Rémy
Marseille: Mandanda; Sakai, Kamara, Gustavo, Amavi; Strootman, Sanson; Thauvin, Payet, Ocampos, Germain
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