Preview: Lyon vs. Marseille - prediction, team news, lineups

Lyon could end the weekend in the relegation zone, currently on 16 points after the first 19 matches of the season, while Marseille are on 29 points and can break into the top five with a win and a bit of luck in results elsewhere.

Match preview

After missing out on a place in Europe by just five points last term, Lyon's main target in pre-season would likely have been to get themselves back in the top five in Ligue 1 this season.

However, after 19 games, Les Gones have only managed four wins and find themselves firmly involved in a relegation scrap, just three points above bottom club Lorient and one point above Clermont Foot.

Historically, only one team in the history of French top-flight football has managed to end a league season in the top half after managing 16 points or fewer in the first 19 matches (Bastia in 1968-69).

While three wins on the bounce helped improve the mood around the camp leading up to the Christmas break, hopes of a swift turnaround under Pierre Sage were quickly dampened with back-to-back losses in the first two matches of the New Year.

The first of those losses was a 3-1 defeat to newly promoted Le Havre in a match that Lyon ended with nine players, while the most recent was a 3-2 loss to Rennes at this venue on Monday night.

Lyon have lost each of their last three matches against Marseille, including a comprehensive 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Stade Velodrome just a little over two months ago.

The Phocaeans are right on the shoulders of Lille, who occupy the final European qualification spot but will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after going winless in their last three matches in all competitions.

Gennaro Gattuso's side played out consecutive draws against Strasbourg (1-1) and Monaco (2-2) in their last two league outings, while between those fixtures, they were knocked out of the Coupe de France by on penalties by Rennes.

Still, Les Minots are unbeaten in their last eight league games, including four wins and four losses, and have only tasted defeat once in their last ten matches, which was against Lens before the November international break.

Despite their solid run of form, Gattuso will be looking to tighten up in defence on the road in the second half of the campaign. His side have failed to keep an away clean sheet as yet, which has contributed heavily to them only managing one win in their nine away games.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

W

L

L

Lyon form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

L

Marseille Ligue 1 form:

W

W

W

D

D

D

Marseille form (all competitions):

W

D

W

D

L

D

Team News

In an attempt to turn their season around, Lyon secured the services of veteran Nemanja Matic during the January transfer window, but the former Manchester United and Rennes midfielder is carrying a muscle injury and has been flagged as a doubt.

Another new arrival is Gift Orban, who made his debut off the bench in the side's 3-2 defeat against Rennes last week, and the 21-year-old will be hoping to get his first start this weekend.

Johann Lepenant has not featured as yet this season due to a knee injury and is only expected to return to training by the end of the month. Duje Caleta-Car will serve the final of his three-match suspension in this one.

For Marseille, Amir Murillo (muscle) and Valentin Rongier (knee) are expected to remain sidelined through injury for at least another couple of weeks, while Bilal Nadir is ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.

Gattuso will also be looking forward to the return of Pape Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Amine Harit and Azzedine Ounahi from international duty, though this match may have come too soon for them to be tossed straight back in after a gruelling AFCON campaign.

Jean Onana has looked impressive since arriving at the club last month and should keep his place in the midfield trio alongside Geoffrey Kondogbia and Jordan Veretout.

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Mata, Lovren, O'Brien, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Caqueret, Maitland-Niles; Cherki, Lacazette, Fofana

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Lopez; Clauss, Meite, Balerdi, Garcia; Onana, Kondogbia, Veretout; Henrique, Aubameyang, Correa

We say: Lyon 1-1 Marseille

There is no denying that Lyon are in a mess right now, but they have shown significant signs of improvement under the guidance of Pierre Sage, as they showed last week when they almost completed a comeback from three goals down. Marseille are on a solid run coming into this match, but they have been leaky on the road this term and have managed just one win in their nine away games.

Despite the gap in the table, this looks like a fairly level matchup on paper, and we feel there will be nothing to split these sides at the final whistle.

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