5 teams missing out on Champions League football next season
By Matt English
Olympique Marseille
Finished: 13th in French Ligue 1 with 48 points
After losing Dimitri Payet, Andre Ayew, and Andrè-Pierre Gignac, as well as a handful of other first team starters, it was hard to see how Marseille was going to fare this season in the French Ligue 1. Sadly, their home fans saw all too often what the season would be like.
With the second worst home record in the league, they won just three times at the Stade Vèlodrome during the entire season, taking a total of 20 points from 19 home games. Their Europa League campaign was no better. They finished in second in their group, then were immediately knocked out in the round of 32 by Athletic Bilbao, losing one match at home and drawing the other away. One of their few highlights of the season was meeting PSG in the finals of the Coupe de France. They ultimately ended up losing that match 4-2, but getting there was a big part of the clubs season.
The only reason the team did not completely fall apart in the league was due to their 22-year-old striker Michy Batshuayi. He was the only player on the side that had a double-digit scoring tally, scoring 17 goals in league play. This amazing season, however, has attracted a lot of attention from big name clubs.
Batshuayi is expected to join English club Chelsea following the Euro 2016 competition. This would be a big loss for Marseille, losing their lead striker in back to back seasons. They are sure to bring in new talent, and will have to do so in order to revive their hopes of Champions League football in the future.
Next: From First to Tenth