THE SCENARIO: It is July 2016. Olympique de Marseille have named Frenchman Didier Leroy as their new manager after a disappointing 13th placed finish in Ligue 1 under Michel last season. Top scorer Michy Batshuayi has been sold to Chelsea, while a whole host of new players have been brought in. With the club now under new ownership, can Leroy challenge Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance of French football? Or will the former Champions League winners fall further behind their rivals from the capital?

Previous episodes: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3

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1 October 2016

The highlight of October is a showdown against PSG in Le Classique. Before that however, we’ll need to make sure we don’t slip up against Angers and Metz. After the big match we play Chamois in the Coupe de la Ligue, before ending the month with another tough league game against Bordeaux.

1 October 2016

Angers vs Olympique de Marseille

Our first league match of the month is away to Angers, who are struggling in the bottom half of the table with just 7 points from their 7 games. We’ve won five in a row, and there can be no excuses if we fail to make it six. Leya Iseka continues to lead the attack as Njie and Gomis recover from their injuries. In defence, Bedimo and Doria come in for Evra and Rekik.

What a frustrating game. As expected, Angers don’t really offer much threat. We have most of the possession and chances, but our crap finishing has 0-0 written all over this game. With ten minutes to go I throw on Thauvin and Haraguchi as a last resort. It pays off in the 88th minute as the Frenchman sets up the Japan international to score the winner. Haraguchi hasn’t really made much of an impression since signing for us, but hopefully he’ll kick on after scoring his first goal for the club.

FIFA 17 Olympique de Marseille Opponent Lineup

FIFA 17 Olympique de Marseille Match Facts

FIFA 17 Olympique de Marseille Goalscorers

FIFA 17 Olympique de Marseille Player Ratings

15 October 2016

Olympique de Marseille vs FC Metz

With the big one against PSG just around the corner, I opt to rest a few players against relegation threatened Metz. Sakai, who’s been one of our most consistent players, is rested as Hubocan takes his place. Thauvin also comes in for Cabella, who drops to the bench.

An easy 4-1 win is just what we needed ahead of our toughest league match of the season. Sertic opened the scoring early in the first half, which forced Metz to drop their defensive gameplan. It took us a while to make sure of the win, but three goals in 15 second-half minutes from Sanson, Payet, and Thauvin wrapped things up nicely. Metz pulled one back, but the big win should put us in confident mood for our trip to the capital.

22 October 2016

Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique de Marseille

Heading into Le Classique, PSG find themselves in the unfamiliar position of 4th place. They’re 9 points behind us, and while it’s still early in the season, a defeat today will mean they fall 12 points behind. The pressure is most certainly on them to get a result today, which means we don’t have to force the issue.

Both sides are very evenly matched in this one, and a tight first half looks like ending 0-0 until an unfortunate own goal from Sakai gives PSG the lead. Edinson Cavani’s header hits the post, and as it bounces across goal, Sakai gets the last touch and diverts it into his own goal. He was under pressure from Marco Veratti, so I don’t blame him at all. It’s just one of those things that happens. Frustrated at trailing, we lose our heads a bit in the second half and pick up some silly bookings. Despite our efforts, we can’t conjure an equaliser and fall to our first league defeat of the season.

25 October 2016

Chamois FC vs Olympique de Marseille

A cup tie against Chamois offers us an opportunity to bounce back from that defeat and hopefully score a few goals as well. There’s good news as Gomis has recovered sufficiently to start. He’s one of 11 changes, as I give some of the squad players a chance to impress.

Gomis doesn’t take long to get back in the goalscoring mood. His header from Haraguchi’s cross in the 4th minute gives us an early lead, before further goals from Zambo Anguissa, Thauvin, and Fanni seal a comprehensive 4-0 win.

30 October 2016

Olympique de Marseille vs Girondins de Bordeaux

Back in Ligue 1, we welcome Bordeaux to the Velodrome as we look to get back on track after our first defeat of the season. The usual starters come back into the side. That includes Leya Iseka, whose form has earned him the start despite Gomis’ return from injury. The veteran forward will have to be content with a place on the bench.

After I sing his praises, Leya Iseka immediately proceeds to have his worst game and barely has any influence up front. Cabella at least looks lively, and his spectacular flying volley almost gives us the lead. Unfortunately he can’t get the right connection on the ball and it’s saved by Cedric Carrasso. At half-time I call on Gomis, and the change has the desired effect. His header is spilled by Carrasso into the path of Cabella who makes no mistake tucking in the rebound. Gomis has the chance to make it 2-0, but Carrasso makes a good save to deny him. The scoreline is closer than it should have been but the 1-0 win means we maintain our 5 point lead over Monaco. A draw for PSG means that they trail us by 8 points.