Kick off: Sunday, 24 January @20:00 GMT
Venue: Stade des Lumieres (Decines-Charpieu)
Lyon vs Marseille prediction
After suffering a 1-0 loss to Saint Etienne in the local derby at the weekend, Olympique Lyon will be aiming to return to winning ways in Ligue 1 when they host Olympique Marseille at their new stadium Stade des Lumieres on Sunday evening.
Les Gones eyeing a spot in the Champions League
Olympique Lyon celebrate the inauguration of their new stadium with a routine 4-1 win over rock-bottom Troyes, but the team then suffered a 2-1 loss to PSG in Coupe de la Ligue. To make things even worse for the fans les Gones were beaten by their fierce rivals Saint Etienne in the derby du Rhone at the weekend. New coach Bruno Genesio is eager to help Lyon book their place in the Champions League, but the team’s recent form is anything but good. Les Gones, though, gave fans some cheer in midweek as they defeated Chambly in Coupe de France, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry in Sunday’s game against Olympique Marseille. Alexandre Lacazette is likely to lead the line for the hosts against OM and seeing that Mathieu Valbuena has overcome his injury, I am positive that the hosts will look sharp in front of goal on Sunday evening.
Nabil Fekir misses the match with injury, while Samuel Umtiti, Gueida Fofana and Henri Bedimo are all rated doubtful. Coach Bruno Genesio is likely to stick to the 4-3-3 formation.
OM impressive on the road of late
Just like Olympique Lyon, Olympique Marseille are on a quest to return to the Champions League, but OM have been playing below expectations in the 2015/2016 Ligue 1 campaign. Michel’s men sit in ninth place in the standings ahead of Matchday 22 and they are 28 points behind league leaders PSG. However, they are just five points behind the Champions League berth and, no doubt, the Stade Velodrome outfit are capable of booking their place in the elite competition. Unlike previous years, Marseille have been producing better displays on the road than on home soil this term and you should have in mind that they have recorded five wins in previous six away games in the national championship. Michy Batshuayi found the net in a 3-1 win at Caen at the weekend and all eyes will be on the Belgium attacker when Olympique Marseille take on Olympique Lyon in Sunday’s Ligue 1 derby. The 22-year-old forward has netted 15 goals in all competitions this season.
Benjamin Mendy, Lucas Ocampos, Romain Alessandrini and Abou Diaby are all sidelined with injury, while Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Abdel Barrada are both doubtful and the duo will be assessed on the match day.
Head to head record
Marseille vs Lyon 1-1 (2015/2016 Ligue 1)
Marseille vs Lyon 0-0 (2014/2015 Ligue 1)
Lyon vs Marseille 1-0 (2014/2015 Ligue 1)
Marseille vs Lyon 4-2 (2013/2014 Ligue 1)
Lyon vs Marseille 2-1 (2013/2014 Coupe de la Ligue)
Quick Facts
Over 2.5 goals were scored in five of Lyon’s previous six home games
Les Gones suffered four defeats in last five league matches
Olympique Marseille recorded their last league win at Lyon back in 2007
OM scored 1+ goals in last eight away games in Ligue 1
Marseille suffered only one loss in previous 12 league fixtures
Lyon vs Marseille betting tip
Seeing that Lyon and Marseille are level on points ahead of Sunday’s Ligue 1 derby, there is every chance we will see a close encounter at Stade des Lumieres. Both sides are eyeing a place in the Champions League and given their attacking potentials, I would not be surprised if both teams find the net this time out. When Lyon and Marseille met at Stade Velodrome in the reverse fixture they played out a 1-1 draw.
Tip: Both teams to score