Balotelli leads Marseille’s ‘Champions Project’
PARIS: Marseille host Angers today with the Mediterranean side’s late season push for Europe energised by the goals and all-round contribution of Italian striker Mario Balotelli.
Fourth placed Marseille lost 3-1 at bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain before the international break, but with five Balotelli goals in eight appearances since his January switch from Nice the club is in upbeat mood.
The often controversial striker looks to be thriving in the glare of Marseille’s often comic, soapopera like atmosphere.
The striker will be well rested after Roberto Mancini left him out of Italy’s squad for recent Euro 2020 qualifiers, saying he was unfit, causing him to write on Instagram that he was “tired” of being underestimated — ominously for Angers.
Club owner Frank McCourt has launched a ‘Champions Project’ to get Marseille back in the Champions League, and his team now sit six points adrift of that target with nine matches remaining.
Marseille’s direct rival for the final Champions League spot is Lyon, who sit in third and warm up for next week’s French Cup semi-final with Rennes by travelling to take on the same team yesterday.
Hatem Ben Arfa’s Rennes, eliminated by Arsenal in the Europa League two weeks ago, have three players suspended but go into the match on good form and with a solid home record.
Twenty points clear atop Ligue 1, defending champions PSG travel to Toulouse tomorrow ahead of their own French Cup semi-final with Nantes.
Toulouse have won just one of their last five games and face Ligue 1 top scorer Kylian Mbappe’s growing prowess as a lone striker in the absence of injured Neymar and Edinson Cavani and a PSG side with seven straight league wins under their belts.
Nantes host second-placed Lille but the 2001 French champions are 10 points ahead of the drop zone — and nine away from the relegation play-off spot.
Lille, who won the French league themselves as recently as 2011, were beaten last time out by resurgent Monaco and will be keen to win with Lyon closing the gap behind them in third.