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While getting ready to receive the Nîmes red lantern at the Vélodrome, the men of Villas-Boas are still struggling at the start of the year. Sixth, now 7 points behind on the podium, the Marseillais will try to revive this Saturday at 5 pm, against the Crocos.
Apathie offensive
If OM has been in poor shape since mid-December (only one victory in five games), it owes it above all to its ineffectiveness. Only 11e Ligue 1 attack, with 25 goals since the start of the season, the Olympians are still struggling to find the fault in front. The fault, in part, with a lack of a real offensive leader, even if Payet and Thauvin tend to return to form. Behind the 6 goals of the former bastiais, the top scorers on the Marseille side are called Dimitri Payet, Dario Benedetto, and… Valère Germain with three units each on the clock. A performance well below expectations, which largely explains the recent difficulties of the Marseillais in the league. Faced with Nîmes Olympique, the worst defense in the championship (40 goals conceded), the vice-champions of France will have a golden opportunity to relaunch to keep in contact with European places.
The Nîmes shipwreck
It must be said that on the Gard side, the picture is even less encouraging. Last in the championship with 12 small points, the situation is starting to be worrying for the men of Jérôme Arpinon, who have not won a single match since November 22. Beaten by all their direct competitors for the maintenance (Strasbourg, Lorient, Dijon), the Nîmes look grim at the start of the year. Faced with an irregular OM, it will be a question of stopping the bleeding to avoid complete stall.
Photo credits: AFP
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