Aiming to bounce back following a damaging defeat last time out, Saint-Etienne will welcome title-chasing Marseille to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday night for a Ligue 1 match.
Les Verts were smashed by five goals at the home of Rennes at the end of November, whilst Les Olympiens recorded a much-needed home success over fellow high-flyers Monaco.
Match preview
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After returning from the November international break with a one-goal success over fellow strugglers Montpellier HSC, Saint-Etienne concluded their November schedule on a sour note last Saturday, when a trip to the home of Rennes resulted in a sobering five-goal thrashing.
The course of the contest was set in the first half when Mathieu Cafaro was dismissed for blocking Jordan James's goal-bound shot using a hand, with Les Verts going on to concede five times during the final 51 minutes of the match, allowing Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga to bag a hat-trick.
After their second-heaviest defeat of the top-flight campaign so far, Saint-Etienne have dropped to 15th spot in the Ligue 1 standings ahead of Marseille's visit on Sunday night, sitting just two points ahead of 17th-placed Nantes, who are occupying the highest of the relegation spots.
With all four of their Ligue 1 wins arriving in front of their own supporters this campaign, Les Verts should be relatively confident of recording a positive result against Les Olympiens, with Olivier Dall'Oglio's troops conceding just five goals across six games at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
A menacing foe for Saint-Etienne during his time at Bordeaux in Ligue 2 over the past two years, Zuriko Davitashvili is now shining in green for the newly-promoted side as they look to secure their top-flight status, with the Georgia international providing seven goal contributions during 13 Ligue 1 appearances to date.
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Following the shock 3-1 home defeat to surprise package Auxerre in Ligue 1 prior to the international break, Marseille have returned to winning ways in some style over the past fortnight, beating Europe-chasing Lens on the road before edging past Monaco at Stade Velodrome last Sunday.
Carrying a three-game winless run heading into the clash with Monaco last time out, it looked as if Les Olympiens' troubles in front of their own supporters were set to continue when Aleksandr Golovin opened the scoring, but second-half strikes from Luis Henrique and Mason Greenwood completed a comeback success for the hosts.
Striving for consecutive wins in the top flight for the first time since late September, Marseille are currently occupying second spot in the Ligue 1 table, seven points behind title favourites Paris Saint-Germain in first and four points ahead of Lyon in fifth position.
Les Olympiens' unlikely charge for the French crown is being fuelled by an impressive run of form on the road so far in 2024-25, with Roberto De Zerbi's men collecting 18 points from seven Ligue 1 outings, four more points than any other side in the division at this stage.
Marseille are undoubtedly reaping the rewards of a productive summer transfer window in which a host of top-tier stars arrived at Stade Velodrome, including former Manchester United and England attacker Greenwood, who has netted nine goals across his first 13 competitive appearances for the South Coast outfit.
Team News
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After denying a Rennes opener with his hand last time out, attacking midfielder Cafaro will begin a two-match suspension, limiting Saint-Etienne's options at the top end of the pitch.
Les Verts are also short of players on the flanks of their backline, with Yvann Macon expected back following the turn of the calendar year from a knee injury.
A regular for Saint-Etienne since his summer switch from Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand international Benjamin Old is currently sidelined because of a knock.
Marseille remain without the services of Derek Cornelius, with the 27-year-old suffering a chest injury at the beginning of the November schedule.
Second-choice goalkeeper Ruben Blanco continues to battle back from a knee injury, meaning that Jeffrey de Lange will act as Geronimo Rulli's deputy once again.
Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Appiah, Batubinsika, Ekwah, Abdelhamid, Petrot; Wadji, Bouchouari, Stassin, Davitashvili; Sissoko
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Kondogbia; Henrique, Rongier, Hojbjerg, Garcia; Greenwood, Rabiot; Maupay
We say: Saint-Etienne 1-2 Marseille
The best travellers in Ligue 1 so far, Marseille will have no doubt of their ability to ease past the attentions of newly-promoted Saint-Etienne this weekend.
Les Verts have an impressive home record for a club new to this level, but we cannot envisage Les Olympiens dropping points at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
