Marseille vs. Metz: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Ligue 1 Game

Olympique de Marseille’s 1-1 draw with Lorient at the Stade du Moustoir on Tuesday left the door open for Paris Saint-Germain to leapfrog them at the top of Ligue 1; however, the Parisians also failed to win, and Marcelo Bielsa’s side remain in the top spot going into the 17th week of the season.

By the time that Marseille take on Metz at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, PSG could have temporarily taken the lead as they play FC Nantes on Saturday afternoon.

Regardless of Saturday’s scoreline, OM know what they have to do, and nothing short of a victory will be good enough against the newly promoted side.

Metz will be kicking themselves for missing out on a chance to win a vital three points on Wednesday. Florent Malouda missed a penalty in the dying moments with the game against Bordeaux poised at 0-0.

Albert Cartier’s side will be hoping that those missed points don’t turn out to be crucial at the end of the season.

Going into Sunday’s clash, Metz start the weekend in 12th place, five points clear of the relegation zone. Anything on Sunday would be a massive bonus.

Here are the key issues and decisions that will decide Marseille’s home game against Metz in Ligue 1.

Decision for Cartier on Who Leads the Metz Line

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Maiga celebrates his goal against PSG.

Metz boss Cartier has a huge decision to make for Sunday night’s game. It is likely that he will line up his side in a 4-2-3-1, going with the lone striker ahead of either Malouda or Sergey Krivets.

The decision then comes to who leads the line against the Marseille defence.

Both Modibo Maiga and Juan Manuel Falcon have scored four goals this season. Maiga has scored all four of his goals at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, with two braces against PSG and Caen.

In his 10 appearances this season, they were the only two games in which Maiga found the back of the net, but he is excellent in the air and dangerous when goals are not expected.

Venezuelan striker Falcon is re-finding his fitness and has played a part in Metz’s last two games, including starting in the 0-0 draw with Bordeaux. The striker hasn’t scored since his double against Stade de Reims in September, but he does offer the more mobile option.

Mobility may be the key, and Falcon is a little better at holding the ball up with his back to the goal. That could be key in bringing the midfielders into play.

Cartier could go and surprise everyone by playing two upfront, which would give Bielsa something to think about.

Formation Dilemma for Bielsa

Claude Paris/Associated Press/Associated Press

Bielsa can go with 4-2-3-1 or 3-3-3-1

Bielsa is always keen to name is starting XI whenever he knows what his tactics will be, but on Sunday, he may not be sure of Metz’s game plan until the teams come out onto the Stade Velodrome pitch.

Against a lone frontman, Bielsa will always play a 4-2-3-1, but with two attackers, just like against Lorient, he will move to three at the back.

Playing Alaixys Romao in the XI would give Bielsa the option to change his call as soon as Metz revealed their tactics.

Romao would either play as the deepest midfielder in the 4-2-3-1 or beside the centre-backs in a 3-3-3-1.

Bielsa confirmed in Friday’s press conference that he hadn’t decided on Sunday’s team, which will be partly due to the decisions both coaches have to make (in French):

"

#Bielsa " Je n'ai pas encore fait mon choix de groupe pour dimanche contre @FCMetz_officiel " #OMFCM

— Olympique Marseille (@OM_Officiel) December 5, 2014"

This could be the biggest test for the versatility that Bielsa tries to instil in his team. All of the players will need to be ready to change if Metz throws them a curveball on Sunday.

Giannelli Imbula hasn’t looked as effective when OM has to play three at the back, and the defence itself hasn’t been as tight.

Metz may not have the ability to truly test the Marseille defence, but Cartier has the means to get Bielsa and his team thinking, and if any self-doubt is creeping in, that may be enough to give the away side a chance.

Does Thauvin Need to Be Dropped to Improve

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Thauvin has been frustrating this season.

On paper, it has not been a bad season for Florian Thauvin. The France under-21 international has scored four times and has three assists as his team sit atop the league.

However, the reality is that Thauvin’s performances have been far from impressive, and a lot more is expected from the 21-year-old winger.

In a side that has scored 31 goals and dominates games nearly every week, Thauvin’s productivity has been lacking in the final third.

Bielsa has always publicly praised the forward, but the time could be coming for the Argentinian to bench his young star in order to get the best out him.

Too often, Thauvin picks the wrong option, failing to pass at the right time or shooting when someone else is in a better position. Eventually, it will come back to haunt Marseille, especially if they fail to take their chances like they did against Lorient.

Injuries to Andre Ayew and Romain Alessandrini will stop Thauvin from being replaced in this current side, but with Ayew returning to training, there is a case for Thauvin sitting on the bench for a couple of games in the hope that it sparks an upturn in his final product.

Bielsa can only tell him where he is going wrong, because ultimately, it is up to Thauvin to develop his game to the next level.

If he can find the right pass at the right time or beat the right defender to score key goals, there is no doubt that he has the ability to become one of the best young players in Europe.

That is the most frustrating thing about Thauvin’s performances this season.

Stats via WhoScored.com unless otherwise noted.