Verdict: Total goals over 2.5
Best odds: 7/8
Bookmaker: BetUS
In a Ligue 1 clash between two teams seeking to secure European qualification at the end of the season, Olympique Marseille are set to host AS Monaco at Stade Velodrome on Saturday.
In their previous league fixture, Marseille played to a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg, which has left them three points behind Lille in the race for a spot in European competitions. Monaco, on the other hand, dropped to fourth place after losing 3-1 against Reims, and they are currently six points ahead of Marseille.
Olympique Marseille
Marseille have been consistently getting positive results since late November, with only two defeats in their previous 11 matches in all competitions. However, they have yet to make significant progress up the Ligue 1 table. Gennaro Gattuso’s side has earned points in seven successive league contests, but they currently have a total of 28, which is 11 fewer than they had after 18 matchdays in the previous season.
Despite netting the opening goal in several matches, Marseille have failed to secure victories in four such instances this season, resulting in the loss of nine points from winning positions. Their unbeaten record at the Velodrome in the current campaign, where they have notched 13 competitive fixtures without a defeat, is a notable achievement for the team.
Marseille have demonstrated defensive solidity, conceding fewer than 20 goals in the league campaign so far, which places them among the six sides in Ligue 1 with such a defensive record. However, they have faced challenges in keeping Monaco off the scoresheet before, conceding at least once in 13 successive home fixtures against them.
Team News
Marseille will face significant personnel challenges in this match, with several players unavailable due to their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. The list of absentees includes Pape Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Amine Harit, Azzedine Ounahi, Chancel Mbemba, and Simon Ngapandouetnbu, who are representing their respective national teams.
Samuel Gigot, the lone goalscorer on matchday 18, will be suspended for the upcoming game due to a yellow-card accumulation. Bilal Nadir is sidelined with a cruciate ligament tear, Joaquin Correa is dealing with a sore ankle, and Valentin Rongier will not play due to a broken kneecap.
In these circumstances, Marseille will rely on the contributions of Jordan Veretout, who scored their only goal in the Coupe de France encounter with Rennes last weekend. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, their leading scorer in Ligue 1, will aim to find the back of the net again after not scoring in the league since his brace against Lorient in December.
AS Monaco
Monaco faced a challenging start to the year, conceding multiple goals in a top-flight encounter for the first time since matchday 13, resulting in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. With two defeats in their last three Ligue 1 matches, Monaco have seen a dip in form, going from a solid top-three position to just two points above Lille for a qualifying place in the Champions League.
Interestingly, Monaco’s away form has been more promising, losing consecutive league fixtures at Stade Louis II but winning back-to-back domestic encounters as visitors. In all competitions, including the Coupe de France, they are unbeaten in four successive competitive fixtures away from home, scoring multiple goals in each of those matches.
While their title aspirations may have taken a hit, being 10 points behind Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco are just a point behind Brest for a place in the Champions League group phase. Notably, they have not suffered consecutive defeats all season.
In recent encounters against Marseille, Monaco has demonstrated a goal-scoring prowess, scoring more goals against Les Olympiens (44) than any other Ligue 1 side since returning to the top flight in 2013/14. Additionally, they have lost only one of their previous eight competitive games at the Velodrome, making the upcoming clash with Marseille an intriguing battle.
Team News
Five Monaco players, namely Mohamed Camara, Krepin Diatta, Ismail Jakobs, Mohammed Salisu, and Wilfried Singo, are representing their respective nations at the Africa Cup of Nations. Takumi Minamino is also away at the Asian Cup with Japan.
Eliesse Ben Seghir is expected to return from a shoulder issue in early February, while Eliot Matazo is currently dealing with muscle soreness. Caio Henrique and Breel Embolo are both sidelined with cruciate ligament tears.
Despite these challenges, Wissam Ben Yedder has been in excellent form, scoring seven goals in his last four competitive fixtures, including a hat-trick in the Coupe de France. Folarin Balogun, who scored his first goal with Monaco in a previous meeting with Marseille, and Maghnes Akliouche, who netted twice in a 3-2 triumph, will also be key contributors in the upcoming clash.
Conclusion
An open match, with plenty of chances at both ends of the pitch, is likely to be on the cards at the Velodrome on Saturday, and with players like Aubameyang and Ben Yedder out there, the spectators will likely to be treated to several goals.
Verdict: Total goals over 2.5
Best odds: 7/8
Bookmaker: BetUS
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