Marseille vs Caen preview - Marseille aim to defend home record

Posted Thursday, February 26, 2015 by PA

Marseille will aim to continue their impressive home record at Stade Velodrome in Friday night's Ligue 1 clash with Caen.

Third-placed OM lost their opening home match of the season to Montpellier, but have since won 11 and drawn one of their matches, helping them to third place in the table.

Four points separate OM from leaders Lyon, with coach Marcelo Bielsa believing his side should be level after conceding last-gasp goals against Reims and St Etienne in their last two matches.

The Reims draw ended a series of 11 straight home wins.

"We could have four extra points. They were deserved," said Bielsa, speaking at his pre-match media conference.

"There is no need to fear the last minutes of the next match.

"Conceding goals during this period does not necessarily mean that we lack concentration. Each time, the circumstances were different."

With Mario Lemina (suspended), Abdelaziz Barrada (groin) and Nicolas N'Koulou (knee) all out, Bielsa is considering playing Ghana forward Andre Ayew in central midfield for the encounter.

"This is not a foreign position for him," the Argentinian added.

"He has the characteristics to be play there. Anyway, it's an option that I think about."

OM have not won in February, drawing three successive games since the defeat of Evian on January 31.

Caen, meanwhile, have won five in an unbeaten six-match run, the sole dropped points coming at Paris St Germain.

Caen have won three and drawn five of their away matches this term and sit 14th in the standings entering this weekend's fixtures.

Bielsa added: "Caen are in a positive cycle. We want to change our own."