Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

Football Europe: Marseille seek home comforts

/noticias.info/ Five days after their 2-0 UEFA Intertoto Cup defeat by RC Deportivo La Coruña, Olympique de Marseille return to the even more miserable reality of Ligue 1 as they take on French champions Olympique Lyonnais at the Vélodrome on Sunday.

Losing streak
Despite having lost both of their opening matches against FC Girondins de Bordeaux and RC Lens, coach Jean Fernandez remains optimistic about the game. "It's an opportunity we can seize," he said. "The players know it and it feels good."

Busy schedule
The coach, who still has the full backing of the club's directors, insists the Intertoto Cup has drained his side's energy. Fernandez said the "main issue at the moment is tiredness", adding: "We were not ready for four games in ten days."

League concerns
A defeat by Lyon would leave Marseille nine points off the pace in the table, although Fernandez seemed untroubled by his team's progress (or lack thereof) in the league: "Lyon are the best team in France and this season we won't challenge for the title."

Lazio mauled
However, what will be important is the opportunity to show what Marseille can do with a healthy side. They mauled S.S. Lazio 3-0 in the Intertoto Cup ten days ago in what Fernandez called "our only game with a full squad" and would love a similar result against Lyon.

Carew rampant
Lyon in turn will be eager for a win. With all their main rivals in action on Saturday, a good result will be essential. "It will be a big match between two big teams," said striker John Carew, who is chasing his eighth goal since joining from Besiktas JK.

One-touch masters
Like Lyon, Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain FC and FC Nantes Atlantique have won their opening two fixtures. Strugglers last season, Nantes face AC Ajaccio on Saturday with new president Rudi Roussillon adamant his side are moving towards playing the "jeu à la nantaise" - a famous one-touch style in France.

Bordeaux burden
PSG play Toulouse FC on Saturday while Bordeaux have a slightly tougher task against the AJ Auxerre team that beat AS Monaco FC 2-0 at the Louis II stadium last week. Monaco will look to restore some pride as they tackle UEFA Cup contenders RC Strasbourg. notas_de_prensa_archivo