When will the ongoing dark streak of the Marseille Spartans finally end? Beaten in their last five league matches, including last week's defeat at home to the Rouen Dragons, where « they didn't show anything », as their coach Luc Tardif pointed out, the Marseille hockey players have literally tumbled down the Magnus League rankings. Fourth a few weeks ago, in the battle with the Boxers of Bordeaux and the Dukes of Angers to climb on the podium, they are now sixth with the Aigles of Nice and even the Jokers of Cergy-Pontoise, their opponents of the day this Saturday (at 8 p.m.), which are right behind them in the rankings. “ We believe that this match is decisive in our season », underlines Luc Tardif, aware that there will only be 14 days left for « accumulate as many points as possible » with a view to occupying the best possible position for the play-offs, the quarter-finals of which will begin on March 8.
« They are a bit unpredictable, with quality players particularly effective on special teams. They also have weaknesses that we will use in Saturday's match. We want to hurt our opponents more, focus on weaknesses », Adds the Marseille coach. The latter will have to deal with the absences of defender Fabien Bourgeois and attackers Noa Nsonsa-Kitala and Gennadi Stolyarov, all three injured against the Ile-de-France residents.
