Olympique de Marseille - Montpellier Hérault SC

- Kick-off: Wednesday at 20:00 GMT

The winter break may only have lasted for 15 days in Ligue 1 Uber Eats this season, but few sides were more pleased to see it than Marseille and erstwhile rivals Montpellier.

Both sides were winners in Round 14 - Marseille beating AS Monaco 2-1 and Montpellier prevailing against RC Lens 3-2 - but each has dropped eight of a possible nine points from the three league matches hence.

Still in the mix

The pair nonetheless come into Wednesday's clash still firmly in the European chase. Marseille are fifth on 28 points - a point and three places better off than their visitors - and still have two games in hand over the four teams ahead of them: Olympique Lyonnais, LOSC, Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Rennais FC.

Watch: Highlights of Marseille's 2-1 loss at Angers

Les Phocéens' biggest problem in recent months has been turning performances into points, with only FC Metz (19) having scored fewer goals than André Villas-Boas's side's 22 among teams in the top half of the table. The Portuguese tactician is a known admirer of Montpellier's Gaëtan Laborde - owner of six goals and five assists this term - but refused to be drawn on any transfer rumours at his pre-match press conference.

All Laborde?

"Laborde scores a lot of goals but it's not too nice to talk about him before playing against Montpellier," said the OM man at his pre-match press conference. "He has a big cost, and in this transfer window we're more focused on transfers than sales."

To that end, the only movement in or out at the Vélodrome this winter has been Florian Chabrolle's departure Ligue 2 BKT side AC Ajaccio. The young midfielder's loss doesn't much dent the squad, although Villas Boas will have to rotate elsewhere. First-choice left back Jordan Amavi has a thigh injury while midfielders Morgan Sanson (groin) and Pape Gueye (suspended) are also missing.

Watch: Highlights of Montpellier's 3-2 loss to Lille

History on OM's side

Montpellier could leapfrog their hosts with victory, although that is something La Paillade have not managed at the Vélodrome since August 2014 when Anthony Mounier and Sanson - against his future employers - struck in a 2-0 win.

Michel Der Zakarian may not have the same injury concerns as Villas Boas, but Téji Savanier and Stephy Mavididi will sit this one out after returning positive coronavirus tests. The latter's absence could see Yun Il-lok start in the hole behind strike pair Laborde and Andy Delort.

"We have a team that plays well, attacks, and creates a lot of chances," said Der Zakarian before the game. "But we also get off balance sometimes and make mistakes that cost us. OM have quality players, they're a team that defend well and are clinical, they're able to score and win matches."

Possible line-ups

Marseille: Mandanda (c); Sakai, Alavaro, Caleta-Car, Nagatomo; Kamara, Gueye; Thauvin, Cuisance, Payet; Benedetto

Montpellier: Omlin; Congré, Hilton (c), Cozza - Sambia, Chotard, Ferri, Ristic - Mollet - Delort, Laborde