Despite a fantastic start, Marseille’s Ligue 1 title prospects are “not serious.”

Despite a fantastic start Marseille’s Ligue 1 title prospects are “not serious.”

 

Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi says his side targeting the Ligue 1 title would “not be serious”, despite a fast start that has kept them level on points with Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco at the top of the table.

OM snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory against rivals Lyon last weekend despite playing the majority of the match with 10 men, thanks to Jonathan Rowe’s last-gasp strike. That win put them behind leaders PSG on goal difference and above Monaco. They face another tricky assignment this Sunday at a Strasbourg team who have shown plenty of promise under new boss Liam Rosenior

Marseille fans are already dreaming of challenging for a first Ligue 1 title since 2010, but De Zerbi tried to keep their expectations in check. “I am not talking about a title, that would not be serious,” the Italian, who joined in the summer after leaving Brighton, said last weekend. “We were born yesterday. PSG and Monaco are ahead, they have been playing together for years.”

 

Strasbourg, with the lowest average age in their starting XI of any team in the top 10 leagues in the UEFA co-efficient rankings, have led in every match so far this season but dropped nine points from winning positions already. There could be plenty of goals at the Stade de la Meinau, with Strasbourg and Marseille boasting two of the best three attacks this term.

Marseille fans are already dreaming of challenging for a first Ligue 1 title since 2010, but De Zerbi tried to keep their expectations in check. “I am not talking about a title, that would not be serious,” the Italian, who joined in the summer after leaving Brighton, said last weekend. “We were born yesterday. PSG and Monaco are ahead, they have been playing together for years.”

Strasbourg, with the lowest average age in their starting XI of any team in the top 10 leagues in the UEFA co-efficient rankings, have led in every match so far this season but dropped nine points from winning positions already. There could be plenty of goals at the Stade de la Meinau, with Strasbourg and Marseille boasting two of the best three attacks this term.

Marseille are unbeaten in their last 19 matches against Strasbourg dating back to 2005, although the last four meetings have been drawn. Reigning champions PSG bid to get back to winning ways on Friday night when they host Rennes, after losing their 100-percent record with a 1-1 draw at Reims. Coach Luis Enrique insisted that his players would not be distracted by the daunting Champions League trip to Arsenal next Tuesday.

“At no time do I think and will not think about the match against Arsenal, we have to win against Rennes, that’s the most important thing,” said the Spaniard. Monaco host struggling Montpellier on Saturday, hoping to build on their best start to a league season since their title-winning 2016/17 campaign. Elsewhere, Lens, the only other unbeaten team, host Nice, who will be full of confidence after their 8-0 thrashing of Saint-Etienne.