Olympique de Marseille - Clermont Foot 63

- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

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The more things change, the more they stay the same at Marseille, it would seem. Jorge Sampaoli was a surprise summer departure having led the side to second behind champions Paris Saint-Germain last term; Tudor replaced him as coach in July and has OM in exactly the same spot with three wins from four so far.

Alexis at the double

Former Arsenal and Barcelona superstar Alexis is the flagship transfer at the Orange Vélodrome this season, and he opened his account for the club on Sunday, scoring twice in a 3-0 win for les Phocéens' over their Mediterranean rivals OGC Nice.

The 33-year-old Chilean, most recently of Inter Milan, can expect to lead the line once again on Wednesday, but Tudor has other options in his squad - something he was quick to point out after Alexis's brace.

Watch: Highlights of Marseille's 3-0 win at Nice

"The coach always prepares the game, makes recommendations, but in the end it's the players who decide the game, and I'm lucky to have talented players," explained the Croatian tactician.

"Alexis has quality. We're happy to have him. But he's not the only one. [Dimitri] Payet was very good. We had a gameplan to press Nice high and we could've scored two more goals than we did. But these are only three points, like those at stake in Clermont on Wednesday."

Marseille rotation?

Marseille are without Brazilian international Gerson due to an ankle injury but Payet and Mattéo Guendouzi might have been favourites to occupy the attacking midfield spots behind Alexis anyway. Centre-back Samuel Gigot is back from suspension so Sead Kolasinac - another former Arsenal man - could drop to the bench.

Marseille begin the day as favourites but Clermont won their last meeting 2-0 in February, with Mohamed Bayo and Jim Allevinah on target at the Vélodrome. Bayo has since left for LOSC but Muhammed Cham Saracevic and Komnen Andric have scored twice each in four games since arriving this summer.

The last of those strikes came on Sunday, when les Lanciers were edged 2-1 by FC Lorient at the Stade du Mustoir, playing the second half with 10 men after Neto Borges' sending off. Coach Pascal Gastien was philosophical after the match.

Watch: Highlights of Clermont's 2-1 loss at Lorient

Gastien: 'we have a soul'

"I disappointed with the result, but not with our state of mind throughout the match," he reflected. "I know that we have a soul, that we're capable of rebelling when things aren't going well. That's what we did in Reims [a 4-2 win in Round 2].

"It's logical that we're seen as one of the teams threatened with relegation at the end of the season, but we'll hang on."

Algeria right-back Mehdi Zaffane is Clermont's only injury absentee with a thigh strain while Arial Mendy is expected to fill in for the suspended Borges on the opposite flank. Former Marseille man Saîf-Eddine Khaoui's place is safe after two goal-involvements in four games so far.

Possible teams

Marseille: Lopez; Mbemba, Gigot, Balerdi; Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Tavares; Payet, Guendouzi; Alexis

Clermont: Diaw; Seidu, Wieteska, Ogier, Mendy; Gonalons, Gastien; Khaoui, Saracevic, Allevinah; Andric