The shock: OM and Nice attack, rookies too?

The poster for the 22nd day is a duel between two collectives launched at full speed for a few weeks: Olympique de Marseille, after seven victories in their last eight L1 matches, challenges OGC Nice, three victories and a draw since Digard's appointment on January 9.

The Marseillais (46 pts) leave only crumbs to their opponents and here they are dolphins of PSG (51 pts), which they will face on Wednesday for a tantalizing classic in the Coupe de France.

In the meantime, here comes an equally appetizing Mediterranean clash between President Pablo Longoria's OM, still hyperactive in the transfer window, and the "Gym" Ineos version (8th, 31 pts), which is finally raising its head after a difficult start to the season. .

We will follow the rookie match in particular: Portuguese striker Vitinha, acquired by OM on Tuesday for EUR 32 million (bonus included), will be closely scrutinized at the Vélodrome, while Nigerian center-forward Terem Moffi, a coveted time by Marseille, should make his debut with Nice, who paid 30 M EUR (with bonus) to snatch him from Lorient.

Ranking of the League 12022-2023 after 21 days © Vincent LEFAI / AFP

The Niçois, who have become solid again with Digard, have just hit hard by going to win 1-0 on Wednesday at Lens and intend to do it again on Sunday evening against OM, during an often electric display on the pitch and in the stands in recent months.

Nice supporters will also be banned on Sunday in Marseille, the police headquarters announced on Friday.

The player: without Mbappé, a chance for Zaire-Emery

Injured in a thigh on Wednesday in Montpellier (3-1), Kylian Mbappé will miss PSG for three weeks, the club confirmed on Thursday, and it's a huge blow as the Champions League round of 16 approaches on February 14 against Bayern Munich.

Now forced to compose without its superstar, PSG will have to review its eleven on Saturday against Toulouse, another team in form in 2023 (4 wins and a draw in L1 since January 1).

An opportunity for Warren Zaire-Emery?

The promising Parisian midfielder continues to break precocity records: he made an impression in Montpellier by becoming at 16 the youngest scorer in the history of PSG in Ligue 1.

The young Parisian Warren Zaire-Emery scorer against Montpellier at La Mosson, February 1, 2023 © Pascal GUYOT / AFP/Archives

It's up to him to confirm on Saturday at the Parc des Princes, where coach Christophe Galtier will have to reorganize his offensive animation around Lionel Messi, probably with Hugo Ekitike or Carlos Soler, and without Neymar (thigh), package like defender Sergio Ramos.

Paris has no margin anyway after a checkered start to the year: after Toulouse, the sequence of matches sends shivers down the spine with Marseille in the Cup, Monaco in L1, Bayern in C1, then Lille and again OM in L1.

The figure: 30 pts at home, Rennes master at home

Who is the most effective team in front of their public this season?

It was Stade Rennes, which scored 30 of its 40 points at Roazhon Park before receiving Lille on Saturday (9:00 p.m.).

The Breton club did as well as Lens (also 30 pts in 11 home matches) but with a better attack, 27 goals in 11 matches, and several attacking festivals.

The Rennais crumble when they play away (only 2 wins in 10 trips in L1!) but in front of their home crowd, they have not lost since the first day and have beaten Lyon, Nice or PSG.. .

Rennes coach Bruno Genesio during the reception of Strasbourg at Roazhon Park, February 1, 2023 © LOIC VENANCE / AFP/Archives

It is up to Bruno Genesio's team (5th, 40 pts) to maintain this pace on Saturday against Lille (6th, 35 pts), his first pursuer, who is forced to win to avoid being left behind in the race to Europe...

Rennes, for its part, is looking up and hopes to catch up on Monaco (4th, 41 pts), traveling on Sunday (1:00 p.m.) to Clermont, and Lens (3rd, 45 pts), opposed to Brest (5:05 p.m.).

The program for the 22nd day

SATURDAY:

(5:00 p.m.) Paris SG - Toulouse

(7:00 p.m.) Troyes - Lyon

(21h00) Rennes - Lille

Sunday:

(1:00 p.m.) Clermont - Monaco

(3:00 p.m.) Lorient - Angers

AC Ajaccio - Nantes

Strasbourg - Montpellier

Auxerre - Reims

(5:05 p.m.) Brest - Lens

(8:45 p.m.) Marseille-Nice

© 2023 AFP