Alexis Sanchez has rediscovered his best form at Olympique de Marseille as Igor Tudor's side look to close the gap to Paris Saint-Germain to four points against Montpellier Hérault SC on Friday.
Olympique de Marseille - Montpellier Hérault SC
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Former Arsenal superstar Sanchez has been on international duty with Chile this week, and scored his 51st goal for his nation as they beat Paraguay 3-2 in a friendly outside Santiago on Tuesday.
It was a continuation of a rich vein of form for the 34-year-old, who also scored both goals as Marseille beat Stade de Reims 2-1 in the last game before the international break, handing Will Still his first league defeat in charge of the Champagne club.
Sanchez sizzling
Sanchez how now scored 12 goals in 25 Ligue 1 Uber Eats outings this season. With one assist thrown in, he has a goal-involvement inside every two games this season. He is playing to win.
"I didn't come to Marseille for a holiday in the sun," he said recently. I play to be a champion, not second, third or fourth. I really want to stay but I want to win. The recent elimination [OM lost to FC Annecy in Coupe de France quarter-finals last month] annoyed me more than any fan."
Watch: Highlights of Marseille's 2-1 win over Reims
Alexis and Marseille can extend their collaboration beyond June by another year if both parties agree, but it looks increasingly likely that Eric Bailly will return to Manchester United after his loan.
With defenders Leonardo Balerdi suspended and Sead Kolasinac out with a groin strain, Bailly has still been relegated to the bench, with Valentin Rongier - a midfielder by trade - filling in as the third centre-back beside Chancel Mbemba and Samuel Gigot against Reims.
Montpellier flying under Der Zakarian
With no fresh injuries over the international break, Tudor could name an unchanged starting XI against Montpellier.
Friday's visitors to the Orange Vélodrome are 11th, nine places and 23 points worse off than Marseille, but they have been on a tear since Michel Der Zakarian returned as manager in February, winning five of their six games since, drawing the other.
Watch: Highlights of Montpellier's 2-1 win over Clermont
While they might have been expected to beat promoted Clermont Foot 63 last time out - La Paillade came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to an Elye Wahi brace - they did so with a laundry list of injury absentees, with Faitout Maouassa (thigh) and Maxime Estève (back) just two of the six players missing.
Wahbi Khazri might expect to get the start against OM given the circumstances, but Der Zakarian has question marks about his fitness.
Khazri 'better with 3-4 kilos less'
"He's a very good player, in every club he's played he's been good," he said. "At 32 he can still show his quality, but I think if he can lose a bit of weight he'd be even better. If he had three or four kilos less, he'd be better. He's a great guy, a very good player with good technique, but I'd like him to make that effort."
Jordan Ferri was sent off against Clermont. His suspension means 18-year-old Khalil Fayad should get another chance in central midfield. As well as Maouassa, Estève and Ferri, Enzo Tchato (groin), Léo Leroy (thigh), Théo Sainte-Luce and Dimitry Bertaud (both ruptured cruciate ligaments) are missing.
Possible teams
Marseille: Lopez; Mbemba, Gigot, Rongier; Tavares, Guendouzi, Veretout, Clauss; Under, Malinovskyi; Alexis
Montpellier: Lecomte; Sacko, Jullien, Kouyaté, Sylla; Fayad, Chotard; Nordin, Savanier, Mavididi; Wahi