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Marseille is set to host Lille at the Stade Velodrome in Ligue 1 this upcoming Saturday, following a recent incident that resulted in the postponement of the Derby des Olympiques. Gennaro Gattuso's team has been inactive since their Europa League victory against AEK Athens about a week and a half ago. Their scheduled match against Lyon was canceled just before kick-off last weekend.
The match postponement occurred due to disturbing incidents outside the Velodrome, where Lyon's manager, Fabio Grosso, and Gattuso's former Italian teammate, was taken to the hospital after being struck by objects thrown at the visitors' coach. Marseille is likely to face significant penalties, including a substantial fine and a stadium closure, although the rescheduled date for this fixture remains uncertain.
Despite concerns about the incident, it is expected that the game will proceed as planned, with a full crowd attending, as the two clubs involved are not traditional rivals. However, security measures will be heightened.
On the field, Gattuso, who has been in charge for just over a month, has achieved positive results at the Velodrome. He began his tenure with two victories and a draw in his first five matches, both of the wins occurring at the Velodrome, against AEK and in a league match versus Le Havre. Another home fixture will be welcomed before a potentially challenging away trip to Athens during the midweek. Gattuso's team has faced difficulties on the road, with their only blemishes being losses to Monaco and Nice.
The postponement of last weekend's match has caused Marseille to slip to ninth place in the league, but the tight nature of Ligue 1 means they are still within three points of a European qualification spot while maintaining a three-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Similar to Marseille, Lille had a tumultuous start to the season but have since recovered and are now making a strong push for a spot in the Champions League.
Their sluggish beginning resulted in only two wins from their first six matches. However, a notable victory over a formidable Monaco team helped solidify their position in the top four of the league.
Despite their shaky performance in the Europa Conference League, Lille has managed to maintain their domestic strength, securing 10 points from their last four league games.
Their impressive domestic form is compensating for their struggles in European competitions, particularly highlighted by a drawn match against the semi-professional Faroese team KI Klaksvik. They also narrowly won against Olimpija Ljubljana and Slovan Bratislava in home matches.
Lille's recent history at the Velodrome hasn't been favorable, with just one victory since their last Ligue 1 championship in 2012. Their away form is a cause for concern, having won only three away games in 2023, and their first win in almost seven months came against Le Havre.
Following that win, Paulo Fonseca's team had a poor showing against KI, failing to register a single shot on target against a much weaker opponent. Even when taking an early lead, they were fortunate not to lose to Lens in their subsequent match.
Originally, Leonardo Balerdi was suspended for the Lyon match, but now he will serve his suspension in this game due to last week's postponement.
Azzedine Ounahi was also expected to miss this game and is unlikely to recover in time, as he injured his back from a fall at home.
Goalkeeper Pau Lopez is unavailable due to a thigh issue, so his fellow Spaniard Ruben Blanco is set to start in goal. Meanwhile, Joaquin Correa is not yet ready to return, so Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr are likely to play as wide players.
Lille defender Tiago Djalo is nearing a return from his long-term ACL injury, but there are reports suggesting he might leave the club for Inter Milan when his contract expires at the end of the season.
In terms of other injuries, young Icelandic player Hakon Arnar Haraldsson is sidelined with a calf injury sustained before their match against Slovan Bratislava two weeks ago.
Fonseca is fortunate that Kosovan winger Edon Zhegrova is in excellent form, as he contributed to both goals in the recent victory over Monaco.
Jonathan David, who had gone seven games without scoring, was not included in Fonseca's lineup for the last match. The manager preferred to use Yusuf Yazici as a false nine, and considering that David has not scored a league goal since the 4-1 loss to Lorient on matchday three, the manager may continue with Yazici after his strong performance.
In the upcoming match, Marseille, currently in ninth place in Ligue 1, will host fourth-placed Lille. Marseille is trailing their opponents by six points in the league standings, but they have a game in hand. It's worth noting that Marseille has faced a recent setback, losing three of their last four league matches. However, it's important to consider the context of these defeats, as they all occurred in away games against top-tier teams: PSG, Monaco, and Nice, who are currently the top three sides in Ligue 1. In their most recent league fixture, they secured a 3-0 victory against Le Havre at home. At their home stadium, Marseille remains undefeated in Ligue 1 this season, winning three out of four games and drawing one. They've conceded only one goal in their home matches. Additionally, they've earned four points from their two home Europa League games. Overall, Marseille comes into this game on a seven-game unbeaten streak in home matches.
As for Lille, they currently sit in fourth place, trailing the league leaders Nice by four points. Their high position in the standings is mainly due to their strong performances at home, where they've earned 12 of their 18 points in Ligue 1 this season. However, their away form has been less impressive, with only one win in five league away fixtures. Three of these matches ended in draws, and their sole away victory was against Le Havre, who are in 13th place. Notably, Lille suffered a loss to Lorient, a team positioned just above the relegation zone. Lille's struggles on the road are not a recent issue, as their win at Le Havre marks their only victory in their last ten away Ligue 1 matches. In this matchup, we predict that Marseille will secure the win.
