France - Ligue 1
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Played
February 5, 2012 8:00 PM GMT
Stade Vélodrome — Marseille
Referee:‬ A. Gautier‎
Attendance:‬ 41474‎
 

Ligue 1 Preview: Olympique de Marseille – Olympique Lyonnais

The two giants of French football may not be right at the top of Le Championnat, but they are chasing hard for Champions League football next season as fifth plays fourth

By Robin Bairner

More On :  Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique de Marseille vs Olympique Lyonnais
Loïc Rémy et Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
Loïc Rémy et Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

 PROBABLE LINE-UPS

MARSEILLE

Mandanda
Azpilicueta, Nkoulou, Diawara, Traore
Diarra, Cheyrou
Remy, Amalfitano, Morel
Brandao
LYON
Lloris
Reveillere, Cris, Umtiti, Cissokho
Bastos, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Briand
Lisandro, Gomis

Marseille’s squad is close to full strength going into this match. Souleymane Diawara is back from international duty and, due to an injury to Stephane Mbia, he could well start this clash. Rod Fanni is the other alternative in the heart of the defence.

Mathieu Valbuena is banned after being harshly sent off in the Coupe de la Ligue in midweek, leaving a hole that must be plugged as Andre and Jordan Ayew are both away on international duty. Jeremy Morel may be used on the left of midfield as a result.

Lyon, meanwhile, still have a problem in the heart of their defence as Dejan Lovren is out with an Achilles issue. Samuel Umtiti is liable to start alongside Cris, with Bakary Kone having just returned from the Afcon and Remi Garde admitting that he is mentally fatigued. John Mensah is still with Ghana, though he has barely figured in the first-team squad this season.

Clement Grenier is considered doubtful in the midfield, but there are no further concerns for les Gones, who may elect to leave out both Yoann Gourcuff and Ederson.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Marseille’s recent record has been formidable. They have won 11 of their last 12 matches in all competitions, though that figure does include an extra-time success over Le Havre in the Coupe de France.

  • Remarkably, OM were bottom of Ligue 1 after six matches, yet they are now only two points shy of a Champions League spot.
  • In midweek, they defeated Nice 2-1 in the Coupe de la Ligue, recording their 11th straight win in the competition – a new record.

  • Loic Remy has scored seven of his nine Ligue 1 goals at home – 44 per cent of his side’s tally.

  • Four of those seven goals were directly assisted by Mathieu Valbuena, who is suspended for this clash.

  • Lyon have won 10 of their last 12 games, nearly matching the record of their hosts.

  • Their record away from home in Ligue 1 should be considered reason for concern; they have earned only 13 points in 11 games, losing six times.

  • Matches between the two clubs at Stade Velodrome tend to be tight; the last six have seen Marseille win two, Lyon win two and two drawn.

  • OL won a Coupe de la Ligue match against Lorient 4-2 after extra time in midweek, setting up a final encounter against OM on April 14.

  • Bafetimbi Gomis is Lyon’s top scorer this season, boasting 16 goals in 32 matches in all competitions.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Olympique de Marseille 2-1 Olympique Lyonnais
    15.83 %
  • Olympique de Marseille 0-2 Olympique Lyonnais
    11.67 %
  • Olympique de Marseille 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais
    10.83 %
Head to Head
France - Coupe de la Ligue ‎(FRLC)‎ Apr 14, 2012 Olympique Lyonnais 0 - Olympique de Marseille 1
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ Feb 5, 2012 Olympique de Marseille 2 - Olympique Lyonnais 2
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ Sep 18, 2011 Olympique Lyonnais 2 - Olympique de Marseille 0
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ May 8, 2011 Olympique Lyonnais 3 - Olympique de Marseille 2
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ Dec 19, 2010 Olympique de Marseille 1 - Olympique Lyonnais 1
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Last Five Matches
Olympique de Marseille
May 20, 2012FC Sochaux 1 - Olympique de Marseille 0FRA1
May 13, 2012Olympique de Marseille 3 - AJ Auxerre 0FRA1
May 7, 2012AS Saint-Etienne 0 - Olympique de Marseille 0FRA1
May 2, 2012Olympique de Marseille 1 - AS Nancy-Lorraine 0FRA1
Apr 27, 2012FC Lorient 2 - Olympique de Marseille 1FRA1
Olympique Lyonnais
May 20, 2012Olympique Lyonnais 3 - OGC Nice 4FRA1
May 13, 2012AC Ajaccio 1 - Olympique Lyonnais 1FRA1
May 10, 2012Evian Thonon Gaillard 1 - Olympique Lyonnais 3FRA1
May 6, 2012Olympique Lyonnais 1 - Stade Brestois 29 1FRA1
May 2, 2012Olympique Lyonnais 4 - Valenciennes FC 1FRA1
Odds
Returns: Marseille £70.00 Sportingbet Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!
Returns: Draw £32.50 188bet Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game
Returns: Lyon £110.00 Sportingbet Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!
Team News
Available Squads
30Steve MandandaGoalkeeper
2César Azpilicueta TancoDefender
-N. N'KoulouDefender
15Jérémy MorelDefender
21Souleymane DiawaraDefender
4Alou DiarraMidfielder
7Benoît CheyrouMidfielder
12Charles KaboréMidfielder
19Morgan AmalfitanoMidfielder
9BrandaoStriker
11Loïc RemyStriker
1Gennaro BraciglianoGoalkeeper
13Djimi TraoreDefender
24Rod FanniDefender
26Jean-Philippe SaboDefender
-Wesley JobelloMidfielder
-Larry AzouniMidfielder
29Chris GadiStriker
1Hugo LlorisGoalkeeper
14BakyDefender
13Anthony RéveillèreDefender
20Aly CissokhoDefender
43Samuel UmtitiDefender
6Kim KällströmMidfielder
11Michel Fernandes BastosMidfielder
21Maxime GonalonsMidfielder
9Licha LópezStriker
18Bafetimbi GomisStriker
19Jimmy BriandStriker
-Mathieu ValverdeGoalkeeper
3CrisDefender
14Mouhamadou DaboDefender
7Clément GrenierMidfielder
8Yoann GourcuffMidfielder
10EdersonMidfielder
17Alexandre LacazetteStriker
Players to Watch
Morgan Amalfitano
Morgan Amalfitano
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 19
Games Goals YC RC
32 1 9 0
Morgan Amalfitano moved to Marseille on a free transfer from Lorient over the summer and initially looked overwhelmed at Stade Velodrome. However, in the lead up to Christmas, the canny midfielder started to find his feet, showing the fine assisting skills that forged such a strong partnership with Kevin Gameiro last season. With Mathieu Valbuena missing, he is as important as he has ever been to OM as he must provide the bullets for Loic Remy.
Bafetimbi Gomis
Bafetimbi Gomis
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 18
Games Goals YC RC
36 14 2 0
Bafetimbi Gomis has been Lyon’s main man in recent weeks, eclipsing even Lisandro Lopez and Michel Bastos. He scored a fine effort last weekend that proved to be decisive in a 3-1 success against Dijon, and in the Coupe de la Ligue in midweek he was again on target with what proved the match-winning strike. When he is confident, Gomis is a difficult beast to pin down but, against a stingy OM defence, he is in for a titanic duel.
Prediction
Marseille have to be favoured going into this match. They marginally have the edge in terms of recent form and, though the Velodrome is not as intimidating as it used to be because of its renovation, they still boast a strong home record. With Lyon wounded by absent players, they will look to strike a crucial blow in their quest to finish on Ligue 1’s podium.
Editor's Prediction
Marseille 2
Lyon 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Nenê Nenê
Midfielder
PSG 		21 9
Olivier Giroud Olivier Giroud
Striker
Montpellier Herault SC 		21 2
Eden Hazard Eden Hazard
Midfielder
Lille 		20 9
Licha López Licha López
Striker
Lyon 		16 4
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Striker
AS Saint-Etienne 		16 0