Prediction: Lille vs Marseille

Verdict: Marseille to score in 1st half

Best odds: 2.32

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Trying to get back into the Champions League qualification fight after a poor run of three consecutive defeats, Marseille will travel to northern France for the crucial match against Lille.

The match will be played on Friday night at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in front of more than 50, 000 fans who expect another outstanding performance from the hosts and three more points added to the Ligue 1 standings.

Lille

Lille displayed a top-team status this season both domestically and in Europe. Excellent performances have propelled Paulo Fonseca’s side to 4th place in Ligue 1, simultaneously cruising to the quarter-finals of the Conference League.

The northern French team’s last-round home victory over Lens opened the door for a potential top-4 finish, with the ultimate prize being a spot in the Champions League the following year. It would be an exceptional return to Europe’s club football’s premier stage after a three-year break when Lille played in the Champions League as Ligue 1 champions, defeating the mighty PSG in the title race.

A win against Marseille could knock the South of France side out of the Champions League race at least temporarily, with Brest, Monaco, Nice and Lens remaining also in the fight for a top-4 finish, for what looks to be a last-round Ligue 1 blockbuster.

Lille won the last three encounters at Pierre Mauroy Stadium giving Fonseca’s team a psychological edge against OM. However, the hosts’ recently busy schedule with games played every three days could impair the stamina and freshness of Lille’s squad, giving Marseille a good opportunity to deliver an upset here.

Team News

The young centre-forward, Andrej Ilic, is back in training and could be given a few minutes considering the upcoming fixtures. Experienced centre-back, Samuel Umtiti, is out for the remainder of the season following a terrible knee injury that required surgical intervention.

Attacking midfielder Angel Gomes is the last name on Lille’s injury list. The young talented English player suffered a hamstring injury in last weekend’s home game against Lens, a blow that will see him out for at least two weeks.

Marseille

After Jean- Louis Gasset’s explosive start at the helm of Marseille, which saw OM return to the battle for European Cup qualification following three consecutive league victories, the experienced French manager’s side is having an inexplicable slump.

Problems began to appear in the Europa League second-leg away game at Villarreal when the defence and attack performed miserably. Although Marseille lost 3-1 to the Spaniards, the emphatic 4-0 first-leg victory at the Velodrome was enough to qualify for the quarter-finals.

However, Marseille’s problems did not end in Spain, as the southern French side lost their next two league games without scoring. The defeat to Rennes was overshadowed by the Velodrome collapse in Le Classique. The current champions managed to win against their arch-rivals by an emphatic 2-0 scoreline, despite OM playing more than 50 minutes with an extra player, following Beraldo’s red card.

The top 4 race might be already done for Marseille if they make another mistake against Lille, leaving the visitors to search for glory and silverware in Europe.

OM will play a Europa League doubleheader against Benfica in mid-April following their match against Lille. Marseille’s chances of finishing in the top 4 are greatly reduced if they lose away to Lille on Friday, especially considering their challenging league schedule that includes matches against Rennes and Lens.

Team News

Valentin Roniger has been out since November last year and will likely not play for Lille this season following his broken kneecap. Bilal Nadir is working hard in the recovery room on his cruciate ligament tear sustained in January. However, the medical staff is sceptical regarding the midfielder’s return to action this term.

Jonathan Klaus is the latest injured player, with the right back torn muscle bundle that will see him out for at least two weeks. Amine Harit is one yellow card away from suspension.

Key factors to consider

• Lille is in excellent form being undefeated in the last six games across all competitions (W3, D3)
• The hosts won the last three encounters against OM played at Pierre Mauroy Stadium
• Marseille failed to win any of their last three competitive games (L3)
• The visitors suffered a big blow last round losing Le Classique at Velodrome against arch-rivals PSG
• OM failed to score in the last two games

Conclusion

Lille and Marseille are engaged in a top 4 finish battle, with the hosts leading the race. Recent displays suggest a win for Fonseca’s team. Although Marseille failed to impress in the latest displays, Gasset’s squad can steal the show with an early goal.

Verdict: Marseille to score in 1st half

Best odds: 2.32

Bookmaker: ZetBet