Marseille predicted XI vs Lille: Ismaël Bennacer to start
Marseille are aiming to secure their grip on second position in Ligue 1 as they travel to fellow rivals for UEFA Champions League qualification, Lille, on Sunday night.
L'Équipe understands that Roberto De Zerbi is set to make one change to his team that comprehensively defeated Brest 4-1 last time out. The defence is set to remain unchanged with Geoffrey Kondogbia keeping his place as a makeshift centre back.
In midfield, Valentin Rongier is set to drop to the bench with Ismaël Bennacer promoted to the starting eleven. The attack should also remain unchanged with Amine Gouiri continuing to lead the line fresh from his hat trick against Brest.
Gerónimo Rulli – Michael Murillo, Leonardo Balerdi, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Ulisses Garcia – Pierre-Emile Højberg, Adrien Rabiot, Ismaël Bennacer – Mason Greenwood, Amine Gouiri, Luis Henrique.
GFFN | Liam Wraith

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sweden 4-3 Algeria: three positives Petković can take away 🇩🇿
Even though Algeria lost this very lively friendly match (4-3) against Sweden, there were several positives to take away! Bennacer, always the boss in midfield Ismaël Bennacer scored a beautiful goal and showed that he's a true leader on the pitch. With his vision of the game and his composure, he helped Algeria get back into the match when everything seemed lost. A proud reaction in the second half Trailing 4-1, Algeria could have given up. But the Fennecs responded with character. Thanks to some great collective play, they scored two goals late in the match and nearly equalized. It's an encouraging sign for the team's spirit! Chaïbi, a promising talent Farès Chaïbi, still young, was one of the standout players. Dynamic and skillful, he drew fouls and provided interesting attacking options. He could become an important piece in the coming months. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here. 📸 CHRISTINE OLSSON/TT
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
'An absolute master, a wizard with the ball' - who is new City man Cherki?
Rayan Cherki is only the latest talent fresh off the Lyon production line, but he may be the best yet. He joined Lyon at the age of seven from AS Saint-Priest and, aged 16 years and 140 days, became their youngest goalscorer in January 2020. Advertisement Before that, in November 2019, a Champions League debut came against Zenit, while he also helped France reach the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championships in 2023. Cherki has just enjoyed a breakout campaign in Ligue 1, providing 11 assists, 22 big chances - the most in the league - 13 through-balls and 48 successful dribbles. A return of 12 goals is by far the best of his short career, but it is his work and understanding of the game off the ball that has arguably improved the most this term. French football expert Julien Laurens, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast, said: "He has been incredible this season. Since he was 16 - even before that - the talent is there, left foot or right foot. Advertisement "A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, to be an inswinger every time is just incredible. "He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now." Of the 44 shots he took with his feet in Ligue 1 last season, 22 came with the left and 22 with the right. Cherki's growing reputation was only enhanced by Thursday's stunning international debut on Thursday against Spain, when he sparked France's comeback from 5-1 down. And Laurens certainly isn't Cherki's only admirer. France legend Thierry Henry has previously said he has "never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him", while Lyon's captain Alexandre Lacazette described him as "special". Advertisement Cherki, also part of the France squad that finished runners-up at the 2024 Olympics, scored in both legs for Lyon against Manchester United in a Europa League quarter-final defeat in 2024-25. Speaking to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: "He is the best natural talent I've ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball. "He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius."
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘No one will decide for me' – Rayan Cherki bullish on future following last summer's criticism
In a wide-ranging interview with L'Équipe, Rayan Cherki (21) has opened up on his troubles with Olympique Lyonnais at the start of the season. Last summer, the Lyon academy product was set to enter the final year of his contract and the club were keen to sell, so that they would not lose him on a free transfer. Paris Saint-Germain had agreed a deal with their Ligue 1 compatriots but reportedly could not convince Cherki, while Borussia Dortmund convinced the player but not the club. Lyon placed Cherki in the 'loft' as they tried to force through a transfer that summer. Advertisement However, as transfer deadline day came and went with a bid from Fulham accepted by Lyon but rejected by the player, Cherki remained at his formative club. It would take him signing a contract extension before Lyon took him out of the 'loft' and reinserted him back into the matchday squad. Looking back on that time, Cherki sees the funny side of it. 'Everyone forgets that,' he laughs, 'It still makes me smile. It shows that football can be thankless, in the sense that I gave everything to the club. I signed my first professional contract there despite other options, I extended my contract several times, and I always gave my word not to leave on a free transfer. And despite that, in return, some tried to hurt me.' 'I never gave up,' he continues. 'I knew where I wanted to go. I was heavily criticised by some internally, my entourage was criticised… but I'm the one who makes decisions.' A point that he highlights when thinking about the upcoming transfer window, where he has already been linked with a move to Manchester City. Cherki says, 'No one will decide for me how, why, or where [I'll go].' GFFN | Nick Hartland