Marseille vs Lyon prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-02-01 19:45.
[p]Marseilleâs surprise title challenge in Ligue 1 is faltering, and if theyâre to harbour realistic hopes of getting back into the race, they need a result in this âChoc des Olympiquesâ clash against Lyon. Roberto De Zerbiâs Marseille side went down 2-0 to fellow top four contenders Nice last weekend, thus extending a winless run to three matches across all competitions (D1, L2), which found the Phocaeans ten points off league leaders PSG at the end of the last round.[/p]
[p]Thatâs a position not helped by some worrying form at Stade VĂ©lodrome, with their total of three home wins (D4, L2) less than any other team in the top half of the table ahead of this round. Marseille have at least gone some way to rectifying that since the start of December, as they are unbeaten in four outings on their own turf (W2, D2), but a failure to keep a clean sheet during that period highlights an underlying issue.[/p]
[p]Recent results suggest that streak could well be extended against Lyon, whose downturn in form saw Pierre Sage lose his job in late January. Les Gones had gone five games without a win (D3, L2) before deciding a change at the helm was needed, but even the managerâs departure has done little to improve the situation, as it was followed by a 1-1 home draw against Ludogorets in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, although that was good enough to secure a last 16 berth.[/p]
[p]Paulo Fonseca, who watched on from the stands on Thursday, is reportedly set to be confirmed as Sageâs replacement, and he takes over a side whoâve got 14 points more after 19 games than they did at the same stage in 2023/24. Supporters are therefore still dreaming of ending a six-season wait for UEFA Champions League football, with Lyon heading into this round sitting just three points outside of the top four.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Marseille will be hoping Luis Henrique can end his six-game wait for a league goal, as he has won each of the ten previous league matches in which he has scored. Looking to do the damage for Lyon, Alexandre Lacazette has netted four times in his last six H2Hs, three of which arrived after the hour mark.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Marseille have scored in both halves of nine of their 19 league fixtures this season, a joint-high for the division ahead of this round.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]