Olympique de Marseille Prepares for Crucial Matches After Turbulent Start
Olympique de Marseille (OM) is looking for a fresh start after a challenging beginning to the season. Manager Roberto De Zerbi acknowledges the significant changes within the club, including numerous new player acquisitions, as they prepare to face Lorient. The team is aiming to regain momentum before facing tough opponents like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Marseille vs. Lorient: A Chance to Rebound
Following a 1-0 defeat against Lyon at the Groupama Stadium on August 31, 2025, OM hopes to use the match against Lorient as an opportunity to turn things around. De Zerbi emphasizes the importance of this game before the daunting week ahead. With several new players integrated into the squad, Marseille aims to demonstrate improved cohesion and performance.
New Signings and Tactical Adjustments
De Zerbi highlights the arrival of 12 new players this season, with six joining during the final days of the transfer window. He acknowledges the challenge of quickly integrating these players but expresses confidence in their readiness and suitability for OM's playing style. Key additions to the defense and midfield include Emerson Palmieri, Nayef Aguerd, Benjamin Pavard, Arthur Vermeeren, and Matt O'Riley.
Hamed Traoré, who started against Lyon immediately after arriving, along with the returns of Facundo Medina and Igor Paixao from injury, further strengthen the squad. De Zerbi emphasizes the importance of having a strong bench and the ability to rotate players based on form and fatigue.
Pavard and Aguerd Debut, Medina Returns
The match against Lorient marks the debut for new signings Benjamin Pavard and Nayef Aguerd, both named in the starting lineup. Facundo Medina also returns to the defensive quartet, providing further stability. Pavard's transfer to OM occurred late in the transfer window, and he had limited training sessions with the team before this match.
"On doit repartir. Il y a 12 nouveaux joueurs cette saison, dont six qui sont arrivés dans les derniers jours du mercato. On n'a pas de temps mais on a des joueurs prêts et adaptés au jeu de l'OM," - Roberto De Zerbi.
Pavard's Perspective and Focus
Benjamin Pavard acknowledges the team's recent struggles but emphasizes the importance of focusing on the immediate challenge: the match against Lorient. He stresses the significance of playing in front of their home fans and the need to secure a victory. Pavard, fresh from international duty with the French national team, had limited training with OM before this fixture.
"Les nouveaux, on a l'habitude. On fait de la vidéo, il y aura eu deux entraînements... Tout ne sera pas parfait tout de suite mais ça viendra petit à petit, je ne me fais pas de souci," - Benjamin Pavard.
De Zerbi's Prioritization: Lorient First
Roberto De Zerbi reinforces the importance of taking each match one at a time, emphasizing that the game against Lorient is more crucial than the upcoming fixture against Real Madrid. He reiterates the need to remain focused and approach each game with the same level of preparation and intensity. However, he admits he is now able to start thinking about future matches due to having 19 or 20 top level players.
OM Leads at Halftime
At halftime of the match against Lorient, OM holds a commanding 3-0 lead. However, a penalty decision initially awarded to Marseille was overturned after a lengthy VAR review revealed an offside in the build-up.
