Marseille will play host to Montpellier HSC in the Stadium Velodrome this Friday in the return of French football.
Team Form
Marseille
Marseille may be trailing Paris Saint-Germain by seven points in the race for the Ligue 1 title, but PSG’s inconsistent form has left the door open for other teams to catch up.
Marseille’s recent victory over Reims, who had been unbeaten in 19 matches, was a much-needed boost for the team after PSG’s loss to Rennes.
Although many had written off Marseille’s title chances after their 3-0 defeat to PSG in Le Classique last month, the team has shown great resilience and determination under Igor Tudor’s leadership. Their recent comeback against Strasbourg, even with 10 men, demonstrates their fighting spirit.
Marseille’s home form has been a cause for concern this season, with the team only picking up 24 points out of a possible 42 at the Velodrome. Their elimination from the Coupe de France by second-tier Annecy was also a major disappointment.
Marseille Ligue 1 Form: W L W D W
Montpellier
Montpellier faced the threat of relegation in mid-February. Still, under the guidance of Michel Der Zakarian, they have turned things around and now find themselves comfortably positioned in mid-table. They are 13 points clear of the drop zone and 14 points away from the European places.
Since Der Zakarian’s appointment, Montpellier has been in excellent form, winning 16 points out of a possible 18. Only Arsenal has a better record in Europe’s top five leagues during this time.
One of the most impressive aspects of Montpellier’s recent run of form has been their defensive solidity. They have only conceded twice in their last six games, and both away fixtures resulted in clean-sheet victories.
With their relegation fears behind them, the team can now focus on finishing the campaign on a high note and building momentum for next season.
Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 Form: W D W W W
Squad Report
Marseille
Marseille will have to cope without Azzedine Ounahi for the next few weeks after the midfielder sustained a fractured toe while on international duty with Morocco.
In addition, Leonardo Balerdi will miss the team’s upcoming game due to a suspension resulting from a red card he received against Strasbourg.
Sead Kolasinac was also absent from international duty due to an injury sustained before the break. Pedro Ruiz and Amine Harit remain on Marseille’s long-term absentee list.
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier will be without Jordan Ferri for their upcoming game due to a suspension he received for a late red card in their previous match against Clermont.
Faitout Maouassa missed Montpellier’s last game before the international break and is expected to continue his spell on the sidelines.
Maxime Esteve is also out with a groin injury, while several other squad players, including Dimitry Bertaud, Enzo Tchato, and Leo Leroy, are also unavailable for selection.
Marseille’s expected starting lineup:
Pau Lopez; Mbemba, Gigot, Rongier; Clauss, Veretout, Guendouzi, Nuno Tavares; Under, Sanchez, Malinovskyi
Montpellier HSC expected starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Jullien, Kouyate, Sylla; Savanier, Chotard, Nordin, Khazri, Mavididi; Wahi
Head to Head
In the 39 matches played between Marseille and Montpellier, Marseille emerged victorious on 21 occasions, while Montpellier won 8 matches. The remaining 10 games have ended in a draw.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Friday, March 31
Time: 07:00 pm, UTC
Venue: Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Prediction
Marseille’s home form has been disappointing this season, and they will face a tough test against an in-form Montpellier side.
Montpellier has been particularly strong defensively, conceding just two goals in their last six matches. This solid defensive performance has been a key factor in their recent success under Michel Der Zakarian.
