Four consecutive victories in Ligue 1 have lifted Olympique de Marseille to sixth place in the standings, prompting the club to consider raising its targets for the remainder of the season, Maxifoot reported.
OM enters Sunday’s 20:45 UTC+1 fixture against Lens with 12 points from its last four league outings. Coach Bruno Genesio indicated in an interview with Téléfoot that management might reevaluate its goals around the winter break.
Bruno Genesio explained that at the winter break, a first assessment can be made regarding the league and the Europa League, allowing the club to advance toward the final stretch of the season and evaluate where the team stands in the final five or six matches.
I was marked at the beginning of the season by the situation,
Bruno Genesio told Téléfoot, as reported by Sofoot. The manager admitted the turbulent opening months tested the squad’s resolve before results stabilized.
He added that the situation was far from ideal and not what he truly expected, noting that facing difficulties together is the alternative to letting go, and emphasizing the daily work required to avoid catastrophism during downturns while maintaining proportion during success.
The club’s early autumn form featured four consecutive defeats against European contenders between the second and fifth matchdays. Wins over Troyes (0-2), Angers (2-5), Le Havre (4-3), and Toulouse (2-0) subsequently altered the trajectory.
A 1-0 victory away to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League added momentum to Marseille’s resurgence. Speaking on RMC Sport’s After Foot, consultant Walid Acherchour asserted that OM has moved past relegation fears. He praised the collective performance in Germany and the progress achieved over recent weeks, describing the win against the renowned opponent as very coherent and convincing.
He also noted the specific context surrounding Lens following their heavy 1-9 defeat against Como in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Daniel Riolo offered a more measured assessment on RMC Sport, noting that while the team has successfully cast off the anxiety of its early slump, structural questions remain.
Je ne sais pas si des choses ont été résolues, a estimé Daniel Riolo, en soulignant que lors de la victoire contre Toulouse, l’OM a concédé 14 tirs.
The analyst remains skeptical about whether the squad possesses the depth to sustain a prolonged European challenge, pointing out tactical adjustments such as a young player positioned alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield, Angel Gomes moving to the bench, and Himad Abdelli playing slightly higher up the pitch, alongside Timothy Weah appearing sharper on the flank.
Bruno Genesio intends to wait until the winter break before finalizing any new competitive targets with the club hierarchy. OM originally set a goal of securing European qualification at the start of the campaign.
Sunday’s match at Stade Bollaert-Delelis against Lens kicks off at 20:45 UTC+1, serving as the final test before domestic fixtures pause.
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