The hottest side in Ligue 1 return to the Stade Velodrome on Saturday as Marseille search for their seventh consecutive domestic triumph when they host Monaco.
Les Olympiens and Les Monegasques have claimed the most points in the league since the domestic campaign resumed last month, with 12 and 10 points, respectively, from both teams.
Match preview
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Their disappointing Champions League exit seems to have lit a fire under these players, with Marseille unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions.
Heading into the second half of the campaign, Igor Tudor has his side well-positioned to claim a place in Europe next season, currently on 42 points, only two behind Lens for second and five back of the leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
A season ago, they were among the top defensive units in the French top flight, and that has continued into 2022-23, with OM conceding just 16 goals so far, the third-fewest in Ligue 1.
They have won five consecutive fixtures played at the Stade Velodrome in all competitions, outscoring their opponents 13-2 over that stretch, including a 1-0 triumph over Rennes last Friday to advance into the last 16 of the Coupe de France.
Les Minots have won four of their last six league contests versus Les Monegasques but have not completed a top-flight double against them since 2007-08.
They have only conceded multiple goals in three domestic affairs all season, one of which occurred in the Principality last November when they defeated Monaco 3-2.
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It has been a frustrating couple of weeks for Monaco, but Philippe Clement's men took out those frustrations on Ajaccio last weekend, winning 7-1, their largest margin of victory in the top flight since crushing Guingamp 6-0 in November 2017.
Monaco found the back of the net on five occasions within the first 35 minutes last Sunday, the first time they had managed that in the top flight since August 1984, when they defeated Metz 7-0.
While they have been relatively inconsistent at times throughout the campaign, Les Monegasques have won 10 of their 14 games played in this competition since September, with PSG being the only team who have done better throughout that span.
The club, located along the French Riviera, are winless in their seven domestic encounters against teams currently positioned in the top seven, one of which was versus Lorient, who they drew 2-2 in their previous away fixture.
They have conceded multiple strikes in three of their last four road games in Ligue 1, though they have found the back of the net in 12 successive matches in all competitions.
Les Monegasques have triumphed only once in six previous visits to the Stade Velodrome in all competitions, though that victory came a season ago when they beat Marseille 1-0.
Team News
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Matteo Guendouzi had the only goal for Marseille in their Coupe de France triumph over Rennes last weekend, as Pau Lopez only had to make one stop for the clean sheet, Jordan Veretout has scored in back-to-back domestic encounters, as he, Alexis Sanchez and Sead Kolasinac each found the back of the net when they defeated Lorient 3-1.
Dimitri Payet was involved in both the equalising and match-winning goals scored by Marseille when they came back to beat Monaco last November, Jonathan Clauss is third in Ligue 1 for assists with seven, while Nuno Tavares is searching for his first strike in the top flight since early January.
Clauss is doubtful because of a groin injury, Eric Bailly has not played since being red-carded in their Coupe de France victory (2-0) over Hyeres, while Tavares was the only newcomer to the starting 11 last weekend as he replaced Chancel Mbemba.
Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder became the first player in Ligue 1 this season to score a hat trick on two occasions with three versus Ajaccio, Breel Embolo notched a brace in that encounter, while Krepin Diatta and Axel Disasi both found the back of the net as well for the second time in this domestic campaign.
Alexander Nubel leads the league in saves with 73 while also posting six clean sheets, Aleksandr Golovin is tied for fourth in assists with five, while Gelson Martins, who has not scored this season, had the only goal when they defeated Marseille in this exact fixture in 2021-22.
Martins is unlikely to see the field in this one because of a calf strain, Kevin Volland is back training but might not be ready this weekend as he is recovering from a rib injury, while Mohamed Camara will be suspended.
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Mbemba, Gigot, Kolasinac; Under, Rongier, Veretout, Malinovskyi; Guendouzi; Sanchez, Dieng
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vanderson, Disasi, Maripan, Henrique; Fofana; Diatta, Ben Seghir, Golovin; Ben Yedder, Embolo
We say: Marseille 2-2 Monaco
Both teams are coming off strong showings last weekend for different reasons, and as good as Marseille have been at home, Les Monegasques have fared well on the road over this campaign, with only one domestic defeat all season.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
