OM's Champions League Hopes Dwindling as Lens Visits Vélodrome

Facing RC Lens this weekend, Olympique de Marseille and coach Jean-Louis Gasset find themselves in a difficult position in the race for the Champions League. With only three points separating them from Lens and five games remaining in Ligue 1, Gasset emphasizes the importance of securing a victory to reignite their pursuit of European qualification while also preparing for their upcoming Europa League semi-final.

With the Ligue 1 season nearing its conclusion, pressure mounts on Olympique de Marseille (OM) and manager Jean-Louis Gasset as their aspirations for Champions League qualification dwindle. As RC Lens visits the Stade Vélodrome this weekend, Marseille faces a pivotal double challenge, with crucial implications for their European dreams.

Gasset's tenure at Marseille has been marked by a stark contrast between promising beginnings and recent disappointments in the league. Since suffering a 3-1 defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League, OM has endured a dismal run of five consecutive winless matches. They have drawn their last two encounters and currently languish in eighth place in the standings, a significant 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Lille.

With a Europa League semi-final looming, Gasset and his squad recognize the urgent need to rediscover their winning form. A daunting clash with RC Lens presents an early opportunity to reignite their season.

Lens, currently sixth in the league, also harbors European ambitions. The encounter promises to be a closely contested affair, and Gasset remains unyielding in his belief that Marseille's fate remains in their own hands.

"We have three points left to play for against Lens, which are very important on Sunday, to close the gap to two points and finish the league as best as we can in the last three matches," declared the 70-year-old manager.

Marseille has suffered consecutive home defeats at the hands of Lens, creating a sense of urgency to halt the bleeding at the Vélodrome. "We will try to end this streak," Gasset asserted at a press conference, as reported by the Olympique de Marseille website.

As Gasset and OM brace for the pivotal clash against Lens, the pressure intensifies. Failure to secure a positive result could further diminish their hopes of European qualification. The outcome of the weekend's encounter will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for Marseille's season and their aspirations for a return to the Champions League stage.