Aubameyang confronts old adversaries as Marseille aim to reignite title bid
Experienced forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to take on his previous club Monaco in Ligue 1 this Sunday, as his up-and-down Marseille team looks to revive their push for the championship.
The ex-Arsenal and Barcelona forward, who came back for another spell at the Velodrome during the summer, began his professional journey in the principality before exploding onto the scene with a burst of strikes at Saint-Etienne.
Following a wandering period on loan around France from owning club AC Milan, Aubameyang landed at Monaco in 2010, where he managed two goals across 23 games prior to moving to Saint-Etienne.
The Gabon star never slowed down thereafter, collecting trophies in England and Spain, plus in Germany while featuring in Jurgen Klopps dynamic Borussia Dortmund squad.
Returning to Marseille, where he first arrived two years back from Premier League outfit Chelsea, the 36-year-old has shone brightly this season, bagging eight goals and providing 10 assists in 19 outings across every competition.
Yet Roberto De Zerbis squad has struggled recently, particularly after an opportunity arose to snatch the lead from fierce opponents Paris Saint-Germain a fortnight ago.
A victory in late November against mid-table Toulouse at home could have propelled them to the summit following PSGs earlier slip, but they allowed a stoppage-time leveller for a 2-2 stalemate.
That result preceded a 1-0 defeat away to Lille, whose points tally now matches third-placed Marseilles at 29, trailing unexpected Ligue 1 frontrunners Lens by five.
Sundays rivals Monaco have shown even greater variability this term, occupying seventh position six points off Marseille.
Their 1-0 triumph over PSG on November 29 offered Marseille a shot at first place, as Sebastien Pocognoli seemed to steady his team after several thrashings.
However, they suffered another 1-0 reversal last weekend versus 10-man Brest.
Having secured vital wins in the Champions League midweek, spirits ought to be lifted along the south coast.
Marseille have triumphed in all fixtures this season, league and European alike, whenever Aubameyang has found the net. If he ends his current three-game barren run this weekend, the home team will believe they can re-enter the title race.
Title holders PSG might temporarily ascend to the top on Saturday by securing at least a point away to basement dwellers Metz.
Sensational summit dwellers Lens intend to hold off pursuers when entertaining troubled Nice on Sunday.
Player to watch: Florian Thauvin
The 2018 World Cup victor came home to France by signing for Lens in August from Mexican side Tigres and has played a crucial role in their unanticipated climb to Ligue 1s peak.
The 32-year-old creator has netted five times in the top flight thus far this season, with three coming in Lenses most recent two matches.
Thauvins vision for assists, along with his scoring touch, may prove decisive in Lens efforts to inflict a sixth straight league loss on Nice.
Key stats
15 - Marseille have shipped goals in the last 15 minutes of their past four games in all tournaments
1 - Aubameyang has secured just one win in six meetings versus Monaco
Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Angers v Nantes (1945)
Saturday
Rennes v Brest (1600), Metz v Paris Saint-Germain (1800), Paris FC v Toulouse (2005)
Sunday
Lyon v Le Havre (1400), Auxerre v Lille, Lens v Nice, Strasbourg v Lorient (all 1615), Marseille v Monaco (1945)