Jordan Veretout and Mattéo Guendouzi are back with Olympique de Marseille and ready to put their FIFA World Cup disappointment with France behind them when les Phocéens visit Montpellier Hérault SC on Monday.
Montpellier Hérault SC - Olympique de Marseille
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- Kick-off: 18:00 GMT
Veretout and Guendouzi were part of Didier Deschamps' squad that came so close to retaining their world title in Qatar, Lionel Messi edging his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé in the final as Argentina beat France on penalties.
Tudor: 'they're in good shape'
Neither were part of the squad who won the title in Russia in 2018 - although OM were represented then by Steve Mandanda, Adil Rami and Florian Thauvin - and head coach Igor Tudor has backed the midfield pair to get over their disappointment quickly.
"They're in good shape even if they're not quite up to the speed of the others, are that they had in the first half of the season," Tudor explained ahead of the trip to the Stade de la Mosson. "On a physical level they suffered but I after two games back I think they'll re-find their level.
Watch: Highlights of Marseille's 6-1 thrashing of Toulouse
"They're professionals, who'll go forward. No one likes to lose, especially in the World Cup final. It's a disappointment for France even if they had a good final. But it would've been a bigger disappointment to be eliminated earlier. It's still positive."
Guendouzi might have to wait to get back up to speed having twisted his ankle. He joins Amine Harit, who has torn his cruciate ligament, on the sidelines.
A case for the defence
Tudor has a conundrum at centre-back with Samuel Gigot unavailable while Eric Bailly has a dead leg. The Ivorian could be asked to play, unless Sead Kolasinac drops into the back three with Nuno Tavares taking his place on the left flank.
Montpellier begin the day in 12th, nine places and 16 points worse off than their visitors who complete the podium as things stand behind PSG and RC Lens, who meet on Sunday.
Watch: Highlights of Montpellier's 2-0 win at Lorient
La Paillaide parted ways with Olivier Dall'Oglio in October, with their former midfielder Romain Pitau succeeding him, initially on an interim basis. He had his first victory - a 2-0 win at FC Lorient - last Thursday, and is optimistic it is the first of many.
Pitau: 'we have a chance'
"We'll try to keep doing the things we've been doing right for a while," he said. "If we play like we have been we have a chance of recovering. The truth is in the league table, and we need more points to gain confidence."
Pitau hopes star man Téji Savanier can shake off a knock, but Wahbi Khazri (ankle), Théo Sainte-Luce (ruptured ACL) and Pedro Mendes (knee/thigh) are unavailable. He can welcome back Nicolas Cozza and Sacha Delaye from suspension, however.
Possible teams
Montpellier: Omlin; Sacko, Jullien, Estève, Maouassa; Ferri, Leroy; Nordin, Savanier, Mavididi; Wahi
Marseille: Lopez; Mbemba, Bailly, Balerdi; Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Kolasinac; Under, Payet; Alexis
