Hyeres – Marseilles. On a good dynamic since the resumption, Olympique de Marseille wants to avoid the trap in the 32nd final of the Coupe de France against Hyères 83 FC.
If the calendar at the start of the season was particularly turned upside down by the presence of the first winter World Cup in history, the new year is restoring the natural order of things and returning to much more regional matters. As tradition dictates, the beginning of the month of January rhymes with the beginning of the great epics in the constantly renewed clash of the amateur and professional worlds in the more than century-old framework of the Coupe de France. Indeed, the time has come to enter the scene for the Ligue 1 clubs. A treacherous period in the aftermath of the holidays in the heart of winter in not always optimal conditions, especially on the random lawns of the little thumbs.
Marseille does not want to give up anything
Olympique de Marseille knows this cutthroat only too well to have been its victim, not so long ago. No one within the Marseille club has forgotten this afternoon of January 6, 2018 and this defeat as painful as it was humiliating on the lawn of ASF Amdrézieux-Bouthéon. A performance unworthy of a team such as OM even in view of the exceptional performance achieved by the Loire goalkeeper that day or the collective solidarity of the opponent. Four years later, the echo remains and the Marseille group refuses to suffer a new affront. A question of pride but above all of ambition. “It’s an important competition for us, we want to win it, that’s what I told the players this morning. We know it’s difficult at the start, we mustn’t underestimate the opponents, we saw him two years ago”, said Igor Tudor. If the Marseille coach does not master the dates, he knows where the important thing is and wants his team to invest as much in the quest for qualification in the Champions League as in the conquest of a trophy which escapes the club. since 1989.
“It’s a knockout game. We know that if they score first, it’s going to be complicated. We have to be twice as vigilant. We are competitors, we want to win every game”, adds Pape Gueye, aware of the stakes. Since the resumption, he and his teammates have shown a lot of seriousness and going especially during the first match against Toulouse with an offensive demonstration and 6 goals scored (6-1). “At the moment we are good but it can go very quickly, especially at this club. We are focused”continues the player before his coach resumes. “It’s true that from a physical point of view we played two big games but it also depends on the opponents”warns Tudor.
“A reward for everyone”
The adversary represents the main unknown for the Marseillais. Historically, OM have not crossed paths with Hyères 83 FC for 90… years. Suffice to say an eternity since the two clubs were then in the First Division while now the Varois vegetate in National 2 (5th national level).
Led by the whimsical Mourad Boudjellal, always as prolific with the media, the Var club advances quietly with no other ambition than to give the best of itself in the hope of creating surprise and starting a beautiful story, one that only the Cup of France can give birth. “This match is a reward for everyone. The opportunity to highlight the club (…) In a match, anything is possible. I have a solid group”, says Karim Masmoudi. The Var technician will be able to rely on his entire group, unlike the Marseille giant. Indeed, Dimitri Payet, Samuel Gigot and Jonathan Clauss are absent due to injury while Nuno Tavares is suspended. So many fewer dangers for the Var collective who will try to exploit the few opposing flaws, especially in the game without the ball where Tudor has noted progress to be made among his players.
One thing is certain, Hyères 83 FC will be able to count on popular support even if the authorities have refused him the right to play with neighboring Toulon in Mayol, the RCT stadium, former property of Boudjellal, and imposed a relocation to Martigues, more geographically close to Marseille. It doesn’t matter, the time is no longer for these petty quarrels but for the field where the truth of a day can defy all likelihood.
The 32nd final of the Coupe de France between Olympique de Marseille and Hyères 83 FC should start around 3:30 p.m., near the Francis-Turcan stadium in Martigues.
The meeting between Olympique de Marseille and Hyères 83 FC counting for the quarter-finals of the World Cup will be broadcast on France 3 and beIN SPORTS 1.
The meeting between Karim Masmoudi’s Hyères 83 FC and Igor Tudor’s Olympique de Marseille will be available for streaming on the Francetvsport and MyCanal platforms.
BetClic: Hyères 83 FC: 30 / Draw: 14 / Olympique de Marseille: 1.05
Sport betting: Hyères 83 FC: 28 / Draw: 11 / Olympique de Marseille: 1.05
Winamax: Hyères 83 FC: 30 / Draw: 12 / Olympique de Marseille: 1.05
Hyères 83 FC: Jan – Diarra, Pineau, Agueni, Cordoval – Brossel, Zerfaoui, Benchadir – Mollo, Assef, Barty.
Olympique de Marseille: Blanco – Bailly, Mbemba, Kolasinac – Kaboré, Veretout, Guendouzi, Rongier, Ünder – Dieng, Sanchez