French football’s top tier is back this week as we prepare for another set of electric Ligue One fixtures. We’re entering the month of February and while that may mean we’re still in the midst of the winter blues, the action on the pitch gives us plenty of cause for excitement. Today, we’ll be taking a look at what should be a fun clash between Lyon and Marseille.
Lyon Form GuideAfter years of being seen as one of the ‘big dogs’ of French football, that’s no longer the case for Lyon. Instead, there are far more questions than answers, and there’s no real allure surrounding them as a club. Right now, there’s a great deal of uncertainty, with their squad not really being up to scratch - especially within the context of the elite teams they are usually competing with.
Despite going 3-0 down to Rennes at home, Lyon didn’t cave in on themselves as much as they have done in the past. They scratched and clawed their way back into the game, eventually losing 3-2, and they’ll feel a bit upset about not going on to get the equaliser.
Marseille Form GuideThey may have fallen away in the title race last season, but Marseille still serve as one of the biggest clubs in French football. They have a tremendous fanbase, they have an exciting squad full of real potential, and they come across as a team with ambition. Alas, all of that will be left redundant unless they can make everything click behind the scenes - and with their management.
In their most recent outing, Marseille’s troubles were summed up pretty nicely as they played host to Monaco. They had 22 shots on goal, they had 69% possession, and yet they weren’t able to get the win against a side with nine men as they drew 2-2.
Match PredictionLyon are a fun team to watch now that they’re starting to get themselves back together, but from a quality perspective, we’re not sure they’re going to be able to match up with their opponents in this one. In our view, the most likely outcome of this game is a Marseille win.
