This Sunday, December 22, AS Saint-Etienne (ASSE) will face Olympique de Marseille (OM) in the 32nd finals of the French Football Cup. On its lawn at Geoffrey-Guichard, the Loire team will try to erase the defeat of December 8, thus getting back on track after a fragile start to the season.
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ASSE – OM. This is one of the posters for the 32nd finals of the French Football Cup. On its lawn at the Geoffrey-Guichard stadium, the Loire club is preparing to face a formidable opponent.
One is in 16th place in the League 1 ranking, with 10 defeats in 15 matches in the championship. The other proudly displays its 2nd position behind PSG. All of them are entering the Coupe de France and hoping to get a ticket for the round of 16 and who knows, succeed PSG. Neither team has won this competition since the White and Blue were crowned in 1989 against AS Monaco.
Will this meeting be a copy and paste of December 8? The Greens don't hope so! During the 14th day of League 1, the Loire team took the water 0-2, on its lawn, against Marseillais who were not really in difficulty.
“We focused on this match, spending a lot of time on the pitch from Monday until Saturday afternoon, on the defensive aspect, the offensive aspect and the transitions.”indicated Laurent Huard, interim ASSE coach, at a press conference.
“I wanted to give benchmarks, belief and positive energy to have the bit of confidence that the players need. Because the group does not want to relive the same match, nor the same result as in the last match against OM. It's up to us to find the best way to annoy this team because, even if we know that the step is high, we want to take it.”added the former defensive midfielder. The Greens arrive this Sunday in the cauldron with a vengeful spirit.
Hoping that this is enough to get the team out of this vicious spiral of defeats. Since the start of the season and its return to League 1, ASSE has struggled to find its balance. “The players are not involved enough”retorted a resident of Saint-Etienne a few days ago, while the arrival of the new coach was on everyone's lips. “If we don't strengthen the players during the winter break, we won't have the weapons to stay in League 1”, another resident worried.
Everyone hopes that the new coach appointed Friday December 20, Erik Horneland, will be able to re-motivate the teams. The double Norwegian champion replaces Olivier Dall'Oglio, dismissed from his duties after the defeat against Toulouse FC in the 15th day of League 1.
He will have to deal with a fragile team: nearly ten players on the squad are injured and unavailable. This Sunday for example, Léo Pétrot and Mathis Amougou, injured against Toulouse, will not be able to participate in the match. Back in training, Mickaël Nadé, Augustine Boakye and Aïmen Moueffek are still too physically fit. Added to these absences are those of Ben Old, Yvann Maçon and Ibrahima Wadji. Some good news however, Anthony Briancon, recovered from his long injury and his recent illness, will make his return to the OM bench this Sunday. He will be accompanied by Mathieu Cafaro, who has served his two match suspension.
Faced with the Greens, OM does not intend to submit. “In Saint-Etienne, it will be the best team that I can field that will play. Without giving a gift. Without offering anything. The best must play every match. Those in good shape will have to play. I won't make a change if I don't think it's necessary”underlines the president of the Marseille club, Pablo Longoria, in a press conference Thursday December 19.
“Today, we have all the players we need to be balanced and hold the game”adds Roberto de Zerbi. After a disappointing eighth place last year in League 1, OM are not playing in any European competition this season. The club is determined not to reproduce the same pattern in 2025 and is riding a positive dynamic of qualifying for the Champions League.
“With our dynamic, this cup is important. We want to win it. We will have the same mentality to seek victory”underlines Amir Murillo, right back of OM. “The French Cup? We care a lot about this Cup. We know that OM hasn't won this cup for a long time.”concludes Roberto de Zerbi, who already sees his team with the trophy in their hands.
Be careful though, OM is coming in the stronghold of the Greens. The legendary “Caudron” has often played a catalytic role for the people of Stéphane.galvanized by a unique popular fervor.
“In Saint-Etienne, there are few teams who have won. We have to expect a different match. The players will want to make a good impression in front of their new coach and the stands will be there.” admits the Marseille coach. Especially since the Blue and White supporters will not be present. A new decree from the Loire Prefecture fell on Thursday December 12, depriving Marseille supporters of travel, as during the last confrontation between the two teams, during the 14th day of Ligue 1.
“Football is made for the supporters. When they are not there, it is a failure. A failure of society, for French football…”, deplores Pablo Longoria, who fights so that OM fans can follow their favorite team on the pitch. To show his support for the supporters, one of the players, Leonardo Balerdi, will wear a flocked armband “Comme un unique OM” during the match.
ASSE – OMit's this Sunday, December 22 from 2:45 p.m., live on France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes!
