Two clubs chasing the 2013-14 Ligue 1 title will do battle today in a league match between Bastia and Olympique Marseille. The first-division clash scheduled for 3 p.m. ET will be held at Stade Armand Cesari in Bastia and can be live streamed here free.
A single point kept Olympique Marseille from participating in European competition this season. The guidance of Jose Anigo, this after the sacking of Elie Baup, wasn't enough to lift the club to the forefront of French football. Florian Thauvin, however, believes newly appointed manager Marcelo Bielsa will help mold Marseille into the surprise of Ligue 1 this year.
"He's someone who lives for football, who loves football and has a lot of love for his players," the 21-year-old told the club's official website (via Sportal). "He's someone who will always be behind his players and who appreciates them enormously. I think we're going to surprise quite a few teams next season."
When asked about the preseason preparations, Thauvin added: "With the preseason we've had so far and the intensity we've been putting into our drills and practice matches, I think it should all go pretty well. I knew there would be a lot of changes and that the coach was very rigorous. It's not easy to run as much as we have been, but we're getting used to it and it's going really well."
Thauvin and company will look to carry that preparation into the season opener this afternoon.
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Marseille's Andre Ayew had a tremendous showing for Ghana in the 2014 World Cup. The 24-year-old carried his club form internationally, contributing two goals in three appearances.
Bastia's Projected Lineup (4-3-3): Leca; Palmieri, Squillaci, Romaric, Modesto; Cahuzac, Gillet, Maboulou; Boudebouz, Tallo, Ayite
Marseille's Projected Lineup (3-5-1-1): Mandanda; Morel, N'Koulou, Sparagna; Ayew, Mendy, Imbula, Djedje, Thauvin; Payet; Gignac
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (statistics and lineups via WhoScored).
Standings
| Rnk | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | +/- | Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |||
| 1 | Stade de Reims | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |||
| 3 | AS Monaco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Caen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | En Avant Guingamp | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | évian Thonon Gaillard FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | FC Lorient | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | FC Metz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | FC Nantes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Girondins Bordeaux | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Lille OSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Montpellier HSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | OGC Nice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Olympique Lyon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Olympique Marseille | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | RC Lens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Rennes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Saint-Etienne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | SC Bastia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Toulouse FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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