Marseille vs Lille Prediction - Will Marseille Be Able To Repeat Last Week's Fantastic Match?

Next Sunday, Marseille will take on Lille at Stade Vélodrome for round 34 of the French Ligue 1 on what will be a match of major importance for the home side concerning their “battle” for a place at the UEFA Europa League next season.

Marseille obtained a spectacular 3-2 win last week at Montpellier on what was a very hectic match that could have gone either way. A late goal from the French midfielder Dimitri Payet gave the visitors a well-deserved win and kept the possibility of grating international football next term alive. L’OM are currently at the 6th place of the table three points behind Lyon and five points from Saint-Etiénne, who are currently occupying the last place that gives direct access to the UEFA competitions next season.

Marseille are currently on a three match run without defeats and the team’s head coach, José Anigo, is hoping that the good moment continues during the five last matches of the season. Last March was a month that Marseille supporters certainly want to forget quickly as their team failed to win a single match and even collected three defeats in five matches. Despite that poor record, the former European Champions managed to bounce back and they still nurture the possibility of playing at the UEFA Europa League next season.

Lille, that currently occupy the third place of the table, are on a very positive row of the matches without a single defeat. René Girard’s team defeated Valenciennes at home last weekend thanks to a goal from Divock Origi on what turned out to be a very complicated match against a team that currently are second from bottom and face an almost certain relegation.

The team’s next match at the emblematic Stade Vélodrome next Sunday will certainly not be an easy one since Marseille cannot afford any major setbacks until the end of the season.

For the clash against L’OM, René Girard will probably not be able to count on the Czech defender David Rozehnal and on the team’s captain, the French midfielder Rio Mavuba, as they are yet not fully recovered from their recent injuries.

When both teams met at Stade Pierre-Mauroy back in December, the home side won the match thanks to a late goal from Nolan Roux. Next Sunday’s match will also certainly be a very close one, although the visitors might enjoy some slight advantage because of their recent excellent form.

Marseille

Stats: W-14 L-10 D-9

Recent Form - DLDWW

Lille

Stats: W-18 L-6 D-9

Recent Form - DDWWW

Possible Line-ups

Marseille (4-3-3) - Mandanda - Nkoulou - Mendes - Mendy - Dja djedje - Cheyrou - Romao - Valbuena - Payet - Gignac - Ayew

Lille (4-4-2) - Enyeama - Kone - Kjaer - Sidibe - Basa - Meite - Gueye - Delaplace - Martin - Kalou - Origi

Prediction: Marseille 1 Lille 1