The Olympians : let's finish in style !

By Philippe Serve

The Olympique de Marseille féminin will complete the first part of the season in D2’s Group C this Sunday, welcoming Le Puy at Roger Lebert stadium (2.30 pm). The opportunity to finish well the 2014 year in the league and put away a team that follows OM in the rankings.

They have to put their backs into it two more times and the Olympians will benefit from a well deserved Christmas break. But before they  get to it next Sunday night, after the First round of Federal Cup (French Cup 1/64) at ASPTT Montpellier’s, the players will have to be present at their appointment this weekend. Welcoming Le Puy, just behind them in the rankings (28 pts vs 33), the Marseillaises have a great opportunity to fly away...

Le Puy, not there by chance

Le Puy 43 Auvergne team

Let's be honest, we were not expecting the Ponotes as high in the rankings when the first part of the season is about to end. For their fourth year in a row in D2 (after a first stay from 2005 to 2007), Le Puy girls seem to have passed the gear. 6th in 2012 right after their accession, 9th the following year, then 7th, and here they are now, being on familiar with the Top and joining in the fight to the accession. Without prejudice to their final position in May 2015, it is clear that the team makes a superb course.

Except a logical and more than respectable defeat in Nîmes (1-2, day 6) The Auvergnates have had only one true misstep on Day 3 and at home,  against Monteux (0-3)... Aurillac, Claix, Nivolas, the FAMF, Blanzy, Muret, all gone to pot and enriched an appetizing stew. Their beautiful 3rd place owes nothing to chance. The team plays well, supported by an excellent midfield (Coralie Arcis, Safia Bengueddoudj, Juliette Bernier) and a solid defense (7 goals taken in 9 games) in which the young and promising Myriam Dioudonnat (19 years) and... the native of Marseilles, Estelle Gallorini (20 years) look already as senior players.

Le Puy remains on three wins (against FAM, in Blanzy, both 2-0, and Muret 3-0). Rested, because they did not play last week against Toulouse — so they have a game in hand — the Ponotes come to Marseille to succeed once, that no doubt!

A Christmas present from the Olympians ?

As far as OM is concerned, it has been decided to take game after game, with the same application, regardless of the opponent. Even if some snags appeared in the beautiful tapestry woven by the Olympians (Nivolas, Véore, FAM), it looks great, and could be offered as a beautiful Christmas gift to their more and more numerous fans. A win would put Le Puy remotely: 8 pts, pending its late game against TFC, played on 21 December. That means, on Christmas Eve, four points at worst, nine at the best... And if by chance the Monteux players had the good idea of beating the Nîmes Crocodiles in their boiling hot derby, then the Olympians would lay down an autumn champions place under the Christmas tree...

Strength through unity...

With Léa and Caro

Privé successivement de sa capitaine Léa Rubio (FAMF, 2-2), puis de Caroline Pizzala (Blanzy, 3-0), pour cause de suspension, l’OM se voit la capacité d’aligner à nouveau ses deux moteurs ensemble. La dernière fois était à Nîmes. On sait le résultat… Vu la qualité de l’entrejeu du Puy comme expliqué précédemment, ces retours seront très précieux, voire déterminants. La partie se jouera sans doute là. À la charge des attaquantes de faire sauter le verrou auvergnat. On comptera pour ça sur la paire formée par Pauline Cousin (3 buts lors des 4 rencontres précédentes) et Alicia Pourquiès, 13 buts à elles deux sur les 25 de l’équipe. Mais si une autre joueuse souhaite poser elle-même un ruban victorieux sur le paquet-cadeau, qu’elle ne se gêne surtout pas !

Successively missing its captain Léa Rubio (FAMF, 2-2), then Caroline Pizzala (Blanzy, 3-0), through suspension, OM is able again to make its two engines work together again. The last time was in Nîmes. We know the result... Given the quality of Le Puy’s midfield as explained above, these returns will be invaluable, if not decisive. The fate of the game will be decided there with no doubt. It will be up to the forwards then to blow up the Auvergnates’ lock. We will rely for this on the pair formed by Pauline Cousin (three goals in the four previous matches) and Alicia Pourquiès, 13 goals between both out of the team’s 25. But if another player wants to put a victorious ribbon on the gift-wrapped parcel herself, please go right ahead !

Alicia and her heart. One more time on Sunday ?

P.S.

Photos : Olympiennes et Marseillaises, OM.Net, lepuyfoot.fr