Skip to main content

Valbuena and Remy return for Marseille

Forwards Loic Remy and Mathieu Valbuena and midfielder Stephane Mbia return from injury for Olympique Marseille's trip to Ajaccio on Friday, while Andre Ayew is sidelined with left shoulder pain.

The match has been brought forward to allow Marseille to prepare for their Champions League last-16 return leg at Inter Milan on Tuesday.

"I know [the players] will have this match in mind. There's nothing I can do to keep them from thinking about it", coach Didier Deschamps told the club website.

"We have 12 matches left. This game will be special because Lille are third. It gives us a chance to revive our fortunes," coach Remi Garde told the club's television channel OLTV.

Midfielder Thiago Motta is suspended for leaders Paris Saint-Germain's match at lowly Dijon on Sunday.

Montpellier host Caen on Sunday and will be glad to welcome back Ligue 1 top scorer Olivier Giroud, who missed last weekend's 1-1 draw with Dijon through suspension.

Left-back Benoit Tremoulinas could be omitted from Girondins Bordeaux's line-up for their match at Brest on Saturday after he was detained this week for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

"I made a mistake. I have no excuses. What I did was unacceptable. I thank God I did not harm anyone," the player told the club's website.