Marseille and Lyon will square up this Sunday in what is expected to be an exciting fixture.
Venue: Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
Key Statistics
Marseille have won their last five home games in all competitions.
The hosts have scored 2+ goals in each of their last five home games.
They have won the most points in Ligue 1 this year (32 points).
Lyon have just one win in their last six away games (three draws and two losses).
The visitors have scored 56 league goals this season. Only PSG (76) and Rennes (75) has outscored them this season.
They have won 999 Ligue games and could become just the fifth team to register 1,000 Ligue 1 wins if they win this game.
Head to head
Lyon have dominated this fixture, winning 41 times against Marseille’s 36 wins in this fierce rivalry (42 draws).
Latest performances in all competitions
Marseille: L-W-W-L-W
Lyon: W-L-W-L-D
Marseille
After their disappointing loss in the Europa Conference League last Thursday, Marseille will turn their attention to the French league on Sunday as they look to get the maximum points that will keep their quest for a top-two league finish alive.
The hosts succumbed to a 3-2 loss to Feyenoord in the Conference League last Thursday, putting their chances of reaching the final of the competition alive. They could still progress if they win the Dutch side by more than one goal in the return leg next Thursday, but must first settle their scores with Lyon this Sunday.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side are sitting second in the league, 12 points behind PSG and six ahead of third-placed Rennes and Monaco in fourth place.
They have four games still to play and can confirm their place in the Champions League next season if they win this game.
Given that they have won their last five games at home, they come into this tie as favourites something that does not happen often given that they have won just one of their last 14 H2Hs against Lyon in Ligue 1 (D6, L7).
Possible Marseille starting line-up
Steve Mandanda; Valentin Rongier, William Saliba, Luan Peres, Saed Kolasinac; Matteo Guendouzi, Boubacar Kamara, Gerson; Dimitri Payet; Arkaduisz Milik, Cengiz Ünder.
Injured: Leonardo Balerdi and Konrad de la Fuente
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Lyon
Lyon will look to make it two wins in two games for the first time since January when they take on fierce rivals Marseille on Sunday.
The hosts beat Montpellier 5-2 last time out to keep their hopes of a top-five finish alive. They are currently five points behind Nice in the race for a European spot and with four games still to play, they have little space for error.
But having won just one of their last six away league games (D3, L2) and a growing injury list to contend with, it’s difficult to envision them bridging the five-point gap to the European places before the season runs out.
But for this game, they will fancy their chances of winning given that they have won seven and lost just one of the last 14 meetings they have had with their hosts.
Apart from keeping the pressure on their fellow Europe chasers, Lyon are also chasing a personal record in this game as a win here would make them just the fifth team to register 1,000 Ligue 1 wins.
Possible Lyon starting line-up
Julian Pollersbeck; Malo Gusto, Damien Da Silva, Castello Lukeba, Henrique; Thiago Mendes, Houssem Aouar; Karl Toko Ekambi, Tete, Lucas Paqueta; Moussa Dembele.
Injured: Tanguy Ndombele, Jason Denayer, Leo Dubois, Rayan Cherki, Sinaly Diomande, Maxence Caqueret, Lenny Pintor
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Marseille 2-2 Lyon
