Predicted Marseille XI v Montpellier: Alexis Sánchez leads the line | OneFootball

Second-placed Marseille host Montpellier for the opening fixture of Ligue 1 gameweek 29 this Friday evening. Les Phocéens have the opportunity to reduce their deficit in the table on league leaders and arch-rivals PSG, who will host Lyon on Sunday, from seven to four points.

However, the Igor Tudor-led side won’t have it easy against a resurgent Montpellier outfit in the wake of Michel Der Zakarian’s appointment as head coach. Les Pailladins are the most in-form Ligue 1 team and have won four of their last five games. Once a relegation-battling side earlier in the campaign, Montpellier are now 11th in the standings. Furthermore, Marseille have recently struggled at home – Les Phocéens haven’t won a league game at the Vélodrome since January.

OM’s Croatian manager Tudor is expected to rely on Chilean international striker Alexis Sánchez (34) to lead the line, with Ruslan Malinovskyi (29) and former Leicester forward Cengiz Ünder (25) on the wings. Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares (23) is in line to feature as a left-sided wing-back, with former Gunner Sead Kolašinac (29) deeper in defense. Struggling Manchester United loanee Eric Bailly (28) should start on the bench.

Marseille likely line-up against Montpellier

Pau Lopez – Chancel Mbemba, Samuel Gigot, Sead Kolašinac – Jonathan Clauss, Valentin Rongier, Jordan Veretout, Nuno Tavares – Cengiz Ünder, Ruslan Malinovskyi – Alexis Sánchez.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval