In what promises to be an electrifying Ligue 1 showdown, Marseille and Strasbourg will face off at the Orange Velodrome on Friday night.
Both teams enter this match with renewed confidence after progressing in the Coupe de France earlier this year.
Match Preview
Marseille overcame a tough challenge from Thionville Lusitanos in the third round of the cup.
Despite facing strong resistance from their opponents, Marseille eventually secured a narrow victory thanks to a brilliant goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
While the win wasn’t as convincing as Marseille fans would have hoped for, it extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to six games and solidified their position in the top six.
Strasbourg, on the other hand, enjoyed a dominant performance against Avoine OCC in the Coupe de France. With early goals from Kevin Gameiro and Moise Sahi Dion, Strasbourg quickly took control of the game.
A second goal from Dion and a debut goal from Mohamed Bechikh sealed a comprehensive victory for Les Coureurs.
This result further boosted Strasbourg’s confidence after winning their last three Ligue 1 matches against Le Havre, Lorient, and Lille.
When it comes to head-to-head encounters, Marseille has had the upper hand in recent years. Strasbourg has failed to secure a victory against Marseille in their last ten meetings across all competitions.
However, the last two matches between these sides ended in draws, indicating that Strasbourg is capable of challenging Marseille.
Team News:
Marseille’s lineup for this match will be significantly impacted by several players participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Amine Harit, Pape Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, Azzedine Ounahi, Chancel Mbemba, Iliman Ndiaye, and Simon Ngapandouetnbu will all be unavailable.
Additionally, captain Valentin Rongier is recovering from knee surgery, while Joaquin Correa is racing against time to regain fitness after an ankle injury.
Strasbourg’s squad, on the other hand, is relatively unaffected by international call-ups. Only defender Saidou Sow will be absent as he represents Guinea.
Lucas Perrin returns from suspension, providing a boost to Strasbourg’s defense. However, Lebo Mothiba, Thomas Delaine, and Ismael Doukoure are expected to remain sidelined due to injuries.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Marseille: (3-5-2)
Lopez;
Meite, Balerdi, Gigot;
Murillo, Nadir, Veretout, Kondogbia, Clauss;
Aubameyang, Vitinha
Strasbourg: (4-2-3-1)
Sels;
Guilbert, Nyamsi, Perrin, Sobol;
Diarra, Sissoko;
Angelo, Gameiro, Deminguet;
Dion
Prediction: Marseille 1-1 Strasbourg
Given Marseille’s numerous absences and their lackluster performance against Thionville, a draw seems like a plausible outcome in this match.
While Marseille boasts a strong defensive record at home, Strasbourg’s recent form and attacking prowess suggest that they can challenge Marseille’s backline and secure at least a point.