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

The hosts are third in the table, eight points behind league-leaders Paris Saint-Germain, while the visitors are in real trouble of being relegated, currently sitting in 18th place.

Match preview

Marseille still have an outside chance of winning their first league title since 2010, however it will be a very difficult task to dethrone PSG, who they are now trailing by some distance, with just eight games left to play.

The Olympians have picked up 61 points from 30 games, a very respectable total, however they have started to draw far too many games in recent weeks, which has significantly hampered their push for top spot.

In their last five league matches, Igor Tudor's side have won two and drawn three, most recently being held to a 0-0 draw in a trip to Lorient, despite dominating the majority of the possession.

A 3-0 loss at home against PSG in February has also done Marseille no favours, and could prove to be a real six-pointer at the end of the season, while they have largely been disappointing in matches at the Orange Velodrome.

The Olympians have the best away record in Ligue 1, having picked up 36 points in 15 games, however they have only amassed 25 on home soil, failing to win in their last five home league games.

Marseille's home record may give Troyes some confidence heading into Saturday's game, but their own away record has been particularly uninspiring, collecting just nine points on their travels, the second-fewest of any side in the division.

It is not just away from home where ESTAC have been disappointing, as they have now failed to win in their last 14 matches in all competitions, losing 11 of these games, and they are in real danger of being relegated.

Patrick Kisnorbo must turn things around sooner rather than later, as his side are now seven points from safety in Ligue 1, with just eight games left to go, but there have been no positives to take from their recent performances.

Troyes have not kept a clean sheet in their last 15 matches in all competitions, meaning they now have the joint-worst defensive record in the division, having conceded 64 goals.

ESTAC's defence was once again not up to the task last time out, with Kisnorbo's side suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Clermont, and the manager's attacking options failed to impress as well, not managing to create any clear-cut chances in the entire match.

Marseille Ligue 1 form:

L

W

D

W

D

D

Marseille form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

D

D

Troyes Ligue 1 form:

L

D

L

D

L

L

Team News

Marseille midfielder Azzedine Ounahi has missed the last two games due to a finger injury, meaning Cengiz Under and Matteo Guendouzi are set to keep their places in the starting lineup, in advanced midfield roles.

Alexis Sanchez is the Olympians' top scorer in Ligue 1 this season, and the Chilean is poised to lead the line again, in what should be a 3-4-2-1 system, with Jonathan Clauss and Nuno Tavares pushing up as wing-backs.

As for Troyes, winger Renaud Ripart will be out for the foreseeable future, having suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the recent loss against Auxerre, while Florian Tardieu remains sidelined with the same issue.

Kisnorbo may be tempted to mix things up in attacking areas, with his side failing to score in three of their last four games, and left-winger Wilson Odobert could be replaced by the more experienced Ike Ugbo.

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Lopez; Gigot, Balerdi, Kolasinac; Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Tavares, Guendouzi, Under; Sanchez

Troyes possible starting lineup:

Gallon; Palmer-Brown, Rami, Salmier; Balde, Kouame, Agoume, Yade, Lopes, Ugbo; Balde

We say: Marseille 3-0 Troyes

Marseille have been a little shaky at home this season, however they could not ask for a better team to play at the moment, as no side have collected fewer points than Troyes in their last 10 league games.

Owing to ESTAC's terrible defensive record, it would not be a surprise to see the Olympians rack up a victory by a considerable margin, keeping themselves in the hunt for the Ligue 1 title.

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