Bruno Genesio Prepares Olympique de Marseille for Le Classique

Bruno Genesio walks into Le Classique with a squad that feels tight, almost stretched to snapping point, and a run of four straight defeats hanging over Olympique de Marseille like a storm cloud. There is no real luxury of rotation here, no sweeping changes to send a message. He has to tweak, not tear up.

Geoffrey Kondogbia and Tochukwu Nnadi are still out, stripping away two options in the middle and limiting any grand tactical rethink. So Genesio is expected to stay loyal to the core that has at least shown some stability in Ligue 1, even if the results have deserted them across all competitions.

One adjustment does loom large. Angel Gomes, short of rhythm and struggling to rediscover the sharpness that once made him such a tantalising prospect, could lose his place. His return from a loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers was supposed to relaunch his Marseille career. Instead, he heads into the biggest domestic fixture of the season fighting for form and a starting spot.

The door this opens is a significant one. Amine Harit, one of OM’s most inventive players, may be shifted into a central role where he can dictate more of the play and carry the ball through the lines. That move would free up the right side of the attack for Keylian Abdallah, whose energy and direct running could be vital against Paris Saint-Germain’s back line.

Genesio’s likely XI has a familiar feel, but the margins matter in a game like this. Jeffrey De Lange is expected in goal, with a back four of Emerson, Nayef Aguerd, CJ Egan-Riley and Timothy Weah. In midfield, Himad Abdelli and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg provide the platform, tasked with shielding the defence and giving Harit the freedom to roam ahead of them.

Igor Paixao and Abdallah should work the flanks, while Amine Gouiri leads the line, needing the kind of cold-blooded efficiency that has too often deserted Marseille in recent weeks.

Probable Line-up

Jeffrey De Lange; Emerson, Nayef Aguerd, CJ Egan-Riley, Timothy Weah; Himad Abdelli, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg; Igor Paixao, Amine Harit, Keylian Abdallah; Amine Gouiri.

Against PSG, that might look thin on paper. On Sunday night, it has to look like a response.