Verdict: Marseille draw no bet
Best Odds: 13/8
Bookmaker: Bet365
With a spot in the semi-final of this year’s Coupe de France up for grabs in midweek, Lyon will welcome a high-flying Marseille to the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday night.
Lyon
Starting with the hosts, after being hit with what was a dramatic 4-2 defeat against reigning Ligue 1 champions PSG last weekend, Lyon have continued on what has been a rollercoaster campaign. While Les Gones might have a Champions League knockout tie against Juventus on the horizon, former Marseille boss Rudi Garcia has seen his new squad fail to win any of their last three appearances, a run that has seen them drop points against both Amiens and Nice. Although Lyon might find themselves sat down in ninth and fighting an uphill battle to secure another campaign of European football for fans around the Groupama Stadium, Wednesday’s hosts have saved their best performances for France’s domestic cups this season. If the Whites are to make a much-needed return to winning ways in midweek, then there is no doubt that Garcia will be calling on leading marksman Moussa Dembele to lead their charge. Finding the net against PSG over the weekend, the former Celtic striker has bagged five goals in his last seven matches across all competitions.
Team News
With Memphis Depay ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, the Dutch international joins both Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Youssouf Kone on the sidelines.
Marseille
As for the visitors, picking up what was a deserved 1-0 win over Toulouse on Saturday evening, Marseille have continued on what has been a scintillating purple patch. Sat in pole position to land a silver medal finish in Ligue 1 and secure a Champions League return, former Chelsea boss André Villas-Boas finds his side in the midst of what has become a remarkable 16-match unbeaten run that stems all the way back to the 30th of October. With the mood around the Orange Vélodrome at a continued high, the Blues also have a growing reputation for their performances on the road. Including picking up a 1-0 win over fellow top-three hopefuls Rennes on their travels last month, Marseille have not tasted defeat on the road in their last eight attempts and there is no doubt that Villas-Boas will be most impressed by Dimitri Payet’s continued purple patch. Bagging the winner against Toulouse over the weekend, the one-time West Ham playmaker has found the net in back-to-back appearances and has recorded six goals in his last eight matchups across all competitions.
Team News
Marseille will be without both striker Dario Benedetto and midfielder Florian Thauvin.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the two sides faced off back in November, Marseille picked up a 2-1 win at the Orange Vélodrome.
- However, Lyon have won their other five meetings against Wednesday’s guests.
- Each of the last four matchups between Lyon and Marseille have seen over 2.5 goals at full-time.
- Dimitri Payet has scored six goals in his last eight matches across all competitions.
- Moussa Dembele has scored five goals in his last seven matches across all competitions.
Conclusion
While Marseille might open Wednesday’s matchup as a huge underdog with the bookmakers, there is no doubt that André Villas-Boas’ high-flying camp should be looking to make a statement in midweek. Picking up a 2-1 win when they faced off against Lyon earlier in the season and in the midst of what has been a remarkable 16-match unbeaten run across all formats, they should be looking to capitalize against a Les Gones squad that have failed to win any of their last three appearances, including defeats against PSG and Nice.
Verdict: Marseille draw no bet
Best Odds: 13/8
Bookmaker: Bet365
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