Clermont vs Marseille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-02-10 20:00.
Pascal Gastien admits Clermont have got to do more in the final third if they are going to end a five-hour goal drought. The manager confessed that his side “lacked movement” and “struggled to get close to goal” during a 2-0 defeat to Monaco last time out, a third game without a victory following back-to-back 0-0 draws against Nantes and Lille, though some solid early season form means this mini slump isn’t yet cause for concern.
The Lancers are still exceeding expectations in Ligue 1, sitting comfortably in mid-table, as many places above the relegation zone as they are below a European place coming into the round. Clermont’s form at Stade Gabriel-Montpied is a concern though, with just one win in their last six league outings (D2, L3), while their total of ten home goals is lower than any team outside the bottom three.
The visit of Marseille could hardly come at a worse time then given Igor Tudor’s side have won four successive away league fixtures for the first time in a year. That run has helped propel them up the table and into the UEFA Champions League places, although a 3-1 home defeat to Nice last time out quickly quelled any pipe dreams of a first title since 2009/10.
The Phocaeans did pick up a confidence boosting 2-1 victory over Paris St-Germain in the Coupe de France on Wednesday night though, which served as their eighth victory in their last ten outings in all competitions (D1, L1). The manager puts their good form down to “improving in our way of defending,” and history dictates that run can continue against a Clermont side they have beaten three times across the last four meetings (L1), including both visits to Stade Gabriel-Montpied.
Players to watch: Clermont midfielder Saîf-Eddine Khaoui has lost four of his previous five H2H clashes with Marseille (W1), but has been beaten in just two of his 12 goalscoring appearances in Ligue 1 (W8, D2). That record pales into insignificance compared to Alexis Sánchez though, who netted in Marseiile’s win over PSG to make it a staggering 47 goalscoring appearances without defeat since March 2017 (W44, D3).
Hot stat: Only four of Marseille’s ten away league games have seen both teams score, the second lowest total in the division.