Ajaccio, France – Marseille cannot even score in Ligue 1, so it's no surprise it has lost its last three matches.
Following a stretch where Marseille lost just once in 17 matches to rejoin the battle for European places, coach Didier Deschamps admitted this week after a 2-0 loss to Evian on Tuesday that "it's starting to take its toll."
"We're going through a tough patch at the moment. I think it's important not to forget that we've already made up a lot of ground in the past few months," Deschamps added.
Marseille opened the season winless in six and with just one win in its first 10 matches, and needed the impressive run that included a stretch of nine wins in 11 games just to recover.
Although the club sneaked a toe into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the first leg, it has continued to struggle in Ligue 1 play.
Deschamps was upset after the loss to Evian, as "it was supposed to be a bonus match for us, a chance to grab some points. It's not a good result for us."
Now, he needs Marseille back on track against relegation-threatened Ajaccio on Friday because just a few days later, his side travels to the San Siro for the second leg against Inter.
Once Tuesday rolls around, it will mark the most important match for Marseille this season. But Friday will be the most important match for Deschamps.
"There are still a lot of points up for grabs but, given our recent form, I know it's going to be complicated. I just hope we can the spring back in our step as quickly as possible," he said.
Marseille is just eighth in the table, but still within four points of fourth- place and a Europa League spot and just eight points off third-place Lille and a Champions League qualification place.
But after wasting Tuesday's match, which means it has now played as many games as every other club, it cannot afford to drop more points. Ajaccio is 18th and just five points off the bottom, but with Inter lurking, the trip to the Stade Francois Coty will not be easy for Marseille.
In addition to the quick turnaround, Deschamps will be without striker Andre- Pierre Gignac and midfielder Andre Ayew due to injuries against Ajaccio.
On Saturday, Lyon will try to rebound from its Champions League exit against Cyprus side APOEL. Lyon was eliminated on penalties, 4-3, following a 1-1 draw on aggregate Wednesday.
"No one is happy tonight and we missed our chance out there," Lyon coach Remi Garde said. "But being downbeat isn't going to help us move forward and we need to move on to other things and think about what is coming up.
"That starts with Lille at home this weekend."
With the Champions League over, Lyon can only focus on a return next season. Lyon is just seventh in the table, but just seven points behind Lille for the last Champions League place from France.
Meanwhile, Lille could potentially distance itself from a group of teams still in the race for third with its third win in its last five.
Also Saturday, Brest hosts Bordeaux, Evian hosts Sochaux, Nice hosts Nancy, Toulouse hosts Lorient, and Valenciennes hosts St Etienne.
On Sunday, PSG and Montpellier resume their title race. PSG visits Dijon, and Montpellier welcomes Olivier Giroud back from suspension for its home game vs. Caen. PSG regained the lead last weekend, but Montpellier remains just one point off the pace.
Also Sunday, Rennes hosts Auxerre.
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