Angersvs.Marseille

Les Olympiens returned to winning ways last weekend, edging Lyon 3-2 in the Choc des Olympiques to stay 10 points behind league leaders PSG.

Match preview

Marseille's title ambitions have taken a major hit in recent weeks, following a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg and a 2-0 defeat at Nice.

Heading into last weekend's showdown with Lyon, anything less than a win would have put their top-two spot in jeopardy, but Roberto De Zerbi's men triumphed in a game of two contrasting halves, where all five goals came after the break.

The situation remains just as precarious ahead of Sunday's clash, with Marseille sitting only three points ahead of third-placed Monaco - meanwhile, they face an Angers side that has picked up the joint-most Ligue 1 points (10) in 2025.

The visitors will rely on their prolific attack, which has produced 43 goals in 20 league matches—Marseille's highest tally at this stage since netting 44 in the 1971-72 season.

Their firepower has also been evident against newly promoted sides on the road, failing to score just once in their last 16 such fixtures.

Angers, on the other hand, will be eager to defy history, having won just one of their last 16 league meetings with Marseille—a 2-1 victory in December 2020, and during that period, they have drawn eight times and lost seven.

Alexandre Dujeux's side can take confidence from their strong home form heading into this clash, winning two and drawing one of their last three league games at Stade Raymond Kopa - another positive result on Sunday would see them go unbeaten in four consecutive home matches for the first time since a six-game streak between May and December 2016.

The Black and Whites played their last league game at home, securing a 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Le Havre thanks to a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser from Florent Hanin, a match saw both teams reduced to 10 men within the opening 16 minutes, with Lilian Raolisoa (Angers) and Arouna Sangante (Le Havre) both sent off.

Despite dropping two points, Angers extended their cushion over the relegation zone to eight points, providing some much-needed breathing room.

They were also in action on Wednesday, producing an impressive 3-1 win at Strasbourg to book their place in the Coupe de France quarter-finals.

Angers Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

W

L

D

Angers form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

D

W

Marseille Ligue 1 form:

D

W

W

D

L

W

Marseille form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

L

W

Team News

Angers will welcome back defender Raolisoa after he missed the cup win over Strasbourg due to suspension.

However, the trio of Bamba Dieng, Carlens Arcus and Sidiki Cherif remain sidelined with injuries.

For Marseille, Amine Harit remains out with a calf issue sustained at the start of 2025, while Faris Moumbagna and Ruben Blanco are also set to miss Sunday's clash due to knee injuries.

Valentin Carboni is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury and is unlikely to feature again this season, while Geoffrey Kondogbia is dealing with a calf strain.

Angers possible starting lineup:

Fofana; Arcus, Biumla, Lefort, Hanin; Aholou, Belkebla; Allevinah, Abdelli, Melali; Lepaul

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Cornelius; Henrique, Rongier, Hojbjerg, Merlin; Rabiot, Nadir; Greenwood

We say: Angers 1-2 Marseille

Marseille face a tricky test against an in-form Angers side that has lost just once in seven competitive matches this year, but we are still backing the visitors to edge a narrow victory.

Written by

Joshua Cole

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