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

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Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Lyon and Marseille, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Lyon host Marseille in the first Derby des Olympiques of the season in Ligue 1 on Sunday night.

The visitors have made a strong start under Roberto De Zerbi, while Lyon are lingering down in the bottom half similarly to how they started last season.

Match preview

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi pictured on August 10, 2024 © Imago

Initially a derby that had no bad blood attached to it, this is a fixture that has turned ugly in recent years, and no Marseille away fans will be present due to incidents that have occurred in recent years.

Marseille's Dimitri Payet and former Lyon boss Fabio Grosso have both been struck with objects in fixtures over the past two years leading to postponements and the game being played behind closed doors.

That means there will be no Marseille fans here to see whether their side can make it back-to-back wins at the Groupama Stadium, after ending a 17-game winless streak in Lyon last season.

Malo Gusto's comical late own goal gifted OM a late 2-1 win in a city where they had endured a torrid run, but they will come into this as clear favourites despite their historically bad record.

Their status as favourites is largely down to the fact they have started the season four games unbeaten for the fourth year in a row, after a 2-0 win over Nice last weekend.

De Zerbi's side sit in second only behind a Paris Saint-Germain side who have made a 100% start, but who will have European distractions throughout the season, unlike Marseille.

As is the case with De Zerbi's teams, the mantra has been based on an attack-first mentality, and that has seen Marseille score 12 goals in their first four games of the season.

The goal will not just be to finish in the top three, but to challenge PSG for the title and bring major silverware back to Marseille for the first time in 15 years, and if they can keep up their current form, that will make Le Classique a very intriguing encounter on October 27.

Lyon manager Pierre Sage pictured in August 2024 © Imago

There are no such ambitions for Lyon this season, whose campaign has not started in desired fashion, losing their first two games to Monaco and Rennes.

A 4-3 win over Strasbourg and a hard-fought goalless draw with Lens were both positives though and at least gives the side some confidence and points on the board heading into the one of the biggest games of the season.

Slow starts are often followed by encouraging spurts of form too, as Lyon have ended up qualifying for Europe on the previous four occasions where they have taken four points or fewer in their opening four games - including last season when they ended up in sixth.

Despite the shutout against Lens last time out though, leaking goals is a huge concern for manager Pierre Sage, as Lyon have conceded 15 in their last seven league games here at the Groupama Stadium, and Marseille under De Zerbi are certainly a side who are capable of punishing them for that.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

Marseille Ligue 1 form:

Team News

Lyon's Gift Orban on September 15, 2024 © Imago

New Lyon man Wilfried Zaha is yet to make his debut for the club since arriving on loan from Galatasaray, and remains their only notable injury concern ahead of this clash.

Former Marseille Jordan Veretout could make his full Lyon debut against his old side here, after coming on for the final half hour against Lens last week, just months after departing the Velodrome, where he spent two seasons.

After his match-winning cameo off the bench against Strasbourg, Gift Orban was given a start against Lens, and would be unfortunate not to keep his place for this one ahead of Georges Mikautadze.

Marseille will be without Canadian defender Derek Cornelius after he was sent off in the second half of their 2-0 win over Nice a week ago.

Leonardo Balerdi is the most likely candidate to come to partner Lilian Brassier in the centre of the back four, after returning from a short setback, but left-back Quentin Merlin remains out with a thigh problem.

One surprise De Zerbi sprung last week was to include Neal Maupay from the start over Elye Wahi, but after the Everton loanee scored on his full debut, he may keep his place in the starting XI.

Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lucas Perri; Clinton Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhate; Maitland-Niles, Caqueret, Matic, Tolisso, Abner; Orban, Lacazette

Marseille possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Rongier, Balerdi, Brassier, Murillo; Kondogbia, Hojbjerg; Greenwood, Harit, Luis Henrique; Maupay

SM words green background

We say: Lyon 1-2 Marseille

Form can often go out the window in such fiercely-fought derby matches, but the start Marseille have made means they are full value as favourites in this one.

Lyon's suspect defence matched against Marseille's prolific attack should give the visitors the edge, despite the fact they will be playing against a raucous atmosphere with no away fans in attendance.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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