Marseille and Lyon are set to face off in a thrilling Ligue 1 encounter at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday night.
This highly anticipated match between the two Olympiques promises excitement and intense competition.
Match Preview
In recent meetings, Marseille has had the upper hand, winning the last two Derby des Olympiques clashes.
However, Lyon had claimed victories in the two games leading up to last season, making this match even more intriguing.
Despite their success in the Europa League under Gennaro Gattuso, Marseille’s performance in the league has been lackluster.
They have only managed to secure one victory in three games under their new coach, suffering losses against Monaco (3-1) and Nice (1-0).
Their lone triumph came in a convincing 3-0 win over Le Havre.
While Marseille has struggled away from home, they have been dominant at the Velodrome, earning 10 points out of a possible 12 in front of their passionate fans.
Impressively, Gattuso’s men have not conceded a goal in three consecutive home matches, showcasing their defensive strength.
Looking back at last season, Marseille secured six points against Lyon in their two encounters.
They will be aiming to replicate that success and please their home crowd once again.
On the other hand, Lyon has been facing difficulties under the leadership of Fabio Grosso.
Since taking charge in mid-September, Grosso has been unable to inspire a turnaround for Les Gones.
Lyon, the seven-time Ligue 1 champions, are currently winless after nine games, making them the only team in the French top division without a victory.
Furthermore, Lyon has struggled to find the back of the net away from home since Grosso replaced Laurent Blanc in September.
They failed to score in their losses against Brest and Reims, highlighting their offensive struggles.
Although Lyon’s start to the season has been far from ideal, they have a chance to turn things around in this Clash of the Olympiques.
However, Marseille’s strong form and impressive record at the Velodrome make them the favorites heading into the match.
Team News:
Marseille will be without Leonardo Balerdi due to suspension following his sending-off in their 1-0 loss to Nice.
Pau Lopez, Joaquin Correa, and Francois Mughe are also ruled out due to injuries.
Lyon will assess Mohamed El Arouch’s condition before the game, but he is not expected to start.
Nicolas Tagliafico, who was dropped from the squad in the previous match, is likely to return to the side at left-back.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Marseille:
Blanco;
Clauss, Mbemba, Gigot, Lodi;
Rongier, Veretout, Ounahi;
Harit, Aubameyang, Sarr
Lyon:
Lopes;
Mata, Lovren, O’Brien, Tagliafico;
Caqueret, Tolisso;
Nuamah, Cherki, Jeffinho;
Lacazette
Prediction:
Lyon’s winless run in Ligue 1 is likely to continue as Marseille is currently performing at a higher level, especially at the Velodrome.
- Our prediction for this exciting encounter is a 3-1 victory for Marseille.