🏏 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:05 CEST
Olympique de Marseille
vs
FC Metz
3-4-2-1 vs 4-2-3-1
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- Fourth-placed Marseille (49 points) host bottom-of-the-table Metz (15 points). Marseille trail third-placed Lille by just one point and need to pick up all three points at the Velodrome to keep the pressure on in the Champions League qualification race. Metz sit eight points adrift of 16th-placed Auxerre and face a desperate battle against relegation.
- In the reverse fixture (Round 7), Marseille cruised to a 3-0 away victory at Metz. It was a dominant display, and Metz will be looking for revenge, though their league-worst 60 goals conceded this season raise serious questions about their defensive resilience at the Orange Velodrome.
- Marseille come into this match on a two-game losing streak, having fallen to Lille (1-2) and Monaco (1-2) in consecutive matches against direct rivals for the top three. With no room for further slip-ups, the hosts must arrest their slide against the league's bottom team and restore momentum.
- Marseille line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Aubameyang as the lone striker, supported by Greenwood and Gouiri as shadow strikers. Greenwood scored 21 league goals last season and his ability to shoot powerfully with both feet is a constant threat. Against Metz's back four, the two shadow strikers should find plenty of space between the lines.
- At 36, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues his second spell at Marseille following his return from Saudi Arabia. The legendary striker, who won the Golden Boot in both the Bundesliga and the Premier League, retains his trademark pace and clinical finishing that will pose the biggest danger to Metz's defense.
- Metz's starting right midfielder Bouna Sarr faces his former club Marseille. A product of Metz's youth academy, he moved to Marseille before winning three consecutive Bundesliga titles at Bayern Munich, then returned to where it all began. His homecoming to the Orange Velodrome adds a personal narrative to this fixture.
- Metz goalkeeper Pape Sy stands at a remarkable 206cm and is Senegal's number one. His high-ball handling and extraordinary reach are his greatest weapons, having been named best goalkeeper at the 2022 African Nations Championship. He will need to produce a heroic performance to keep Metz in the game against Marseille's potent attack.
- Marseille's midfield pivot of Hojbjerg and Quinten Timber provides a strong foundation. The Bayern Munich academy graduate who made 184 appearances at Tottenham, paired with Jurrien Timber's twin brother, offers quality in both ball recovery and distribution. Their ability to cut off Metz's counterattacks will be crucial.
- Metz striker Habib Diallo, who made an emotional return to the club, is the visitors' main goal threat. The Senegalese international won the Ligue 2 Golden Boot with 26 goals during his first Metz spell and scored 20 Ligue 1 goals at Strasbourg. In a relegation battle, his clinical finishing gives Metz their best chance of snatching something from this match.