Lyon vs Marseille Prediction: Tips and Best Bets Preview

One of the biggest clashes in French football is always Lyon vs Marseille and we have a prediction, tips and best bets preview for this Stade Velodrome Sunday centrepiece.

Ligue 1 expert Steve Wyss gives his thoughts and analysis on the big game down on the south coast. Both sides have been very underwhelming this season and would dearly love to collect all three points.

If this write-up doesn’t quench one’s thirst, how about another of Steve’s Ligue 1 previews: Strasbourg vs PSG.

Lyon vs Marseille Prediction and Tips Preview

1. Lyon vs Marseille Tip 1: Over 2.5 Goals
2. Lyon vs Marseille Tip 2: Over 1 Asian Goals in First Half
3. Lyon vs Marseille Tip 3: Alexandre Lacazette Anytime Scorer

In this article:

• Lyon vs Marseille Team News
• The Predicted Ligue 1 Table
• Lyon vs Marseille Stats Preview
• How to watch Lyon vs Marseille
• Safer Gambling

---

Lyon vs Marseille Tip 1: Neither defence can be trusted as both teams push for the win

France, Ligue 1, Sunday 4th February, 19:45 (UK)

Lyon looked an absolute defensive mess in the first half versus Rennes last Friday evening. They were 0-3 down by HT, and the game was gone. They came back well after the interval, but there were far too many gremlins, which raised their ugly head from a defensive perspective. Lyon have started 2024 in a bad way at the back, also losing 1-3 away to Le Havre.

Pierre Sage took over at the end of November, but his mini three-game winning streak before Christmas looks to be a flash in the pan. Lyon are going to have to outscore their way to victory because Marseille should fancy feasting on this defence.

Marseille are unbeaten in eight consecutive Ligue 1 games but have looked unconvincing in both league and cup since the start of 2024. They have excuses. The team has been decimated in all areas by AFCON call-ups, most of which remain applicable ahead of this fixture.

There is a lack of chemistry and an air of unsettling, almost panic amongst the squad. Despite eventually facing nine-man Monaco last week, Gennaro Gattuso’s men lacked the structure, calmness and gameplan. I think Marseille will also feel they need to win this game in a shootout, so over 2.5 goals stands out at 1.98. Both teams need to go for this and get the win. What could result is a haphazard mess.

• Lyon vs Marseille Tip 1: Over 2.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.98
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Lyon vs Marseille Tip 2: Open first half could lead to chances and goals

This is a match in which both teams need to show intent right from the off. Lyon was booed badly by their own fans at halftime last week but did improve after the break to save face. The public will demand they start this fixture on the front foot, and you’ve got to think they come out of the traps hot.

Marseille might try to fight fire with fire, so taking Over 1 Asian First-Half Goal looks like a decent option. There is a full push if one goal is scored exactly, and I think that is the minimum that will be achieved.

Lyon have been losing nine times at half-time this season and are often too aggressive in the first period anyway. Marseille are known for performing strongly in the first half and have been ahead on 8 out of 19 occasions in Ligue 1 at the interval.

These are two teams who know they need to come out and make a statement, so I am expecting a fiery and competitive first half, which might lead to an open encounter with several goals.

• Lyon vs Marseille Tip 2: Over 1 Asian Goals in First Half (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.92
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 9/10

Lyon vs Marseille Tip 3: Top marksman Lacazette to hit the back of the net

Lyon has had a shocking season, but they still have the third-highest scorer in the division with captain Alexandre Lacazette. He has scored nine times in Ligue 1 and has retained his scoring touch. He has been in great recent form, netting seven times in his last nine competitive games.

Lacazette is getting hot at this stage of the season and can’t be ignored at 2.75 to score anytime here. He is a big game player and will want to get a goal in the showcase game of the weekend.

Lacazette has a decent record against Marseille as well. He’s scored five goals in 12 league games against them down the years, including this fixture last season. The Lyon captain still has the 6th best xG of any player in Ligue 1 (7.31) and converted that into nine goals.

He is still getting chances despite Lyon’s poor league form this season. Form is temporary, and class is permanent. The former Arsenal man has been showing his class in recent weeks, and I’m happy to strike while he’s staying red hot.

• Lyon vs Marseille Tip 3: Alexandre Lacazette Anytime Scorer (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.75
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Lyon vs Marseille Prediction odds via bet365 as at 11:36, January 29th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

---

Lyon vs Marseille Team News Preview: AFCON continues to deplete Marseille

Marseille have been hit really hard by this international window with as many as seven players on AFCON duty. None of their key men are set to return just yet, although centre-back Samuel Gigot has completed a one-match ban.

Right-back Jonathan Clauss is an injury doubt after coming off the field last week. Lyon are in good health and could start with their new signing upfront, the exciting Nigerian striker Gift Orban.

---

The Predicted Ligue 1 Table by BETSiE

Our in-house predictive model, BETSiE, has had a go at predicting the Ligue 1 table by using the plethora of underlying data from the 2023/24 season up until this point.

For more league-specific BETSiE content, visit her page here – it’s worth it.

POSITION	CLUB	GAMES	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Paris SG	34	22.7	7.1	4.1	78.4	31.3	47.1	75.3
2	Nice	34	18.1	9.0	7.0	43.4	26.2	17.2	63.2
3	Brest	34	17.5	7.9	8.7	52.2	33.7	18.4	60.3
4	Monaco	34	17.6	6.7	9.7	60.1	44.2	15.9	59.5
5	Lille	34	15.5	11.0	7.6	48.3	31.8	16.5	57.4
6	Marseille	34	15.3	10.8	7.9	52.1	35.1	17.0	56.7
7	Reims	34	15.9	6.0	12.1	47.9	42.9	5.0	53.8
8	Lens	34	14.3	8.7	11.0	47.4	40.0	7.3	51.5
9	Rennes	34	12.2	10.8	11.0	50.0	42.0	8.1	47.4
10	Strasbourg	34	11.6	10.3	12.2	38.0	43.3	-5.3	45.0
11	Montpellier	34	10.1	10.9	13.0	41.3	45.1	-3.8	41.2
12	Le Havre	34	9.5	10.9	13.6	36.4	44.8	-8.3	39.4
13	Lyon	34	9.1	7.8	17.1	38.5	56.4	-17.9	35.2
14	Nantes	34	9.1	6.5	18.3	39.1	59.3	-20.2	34.0
15	Toulouse	34	7.1	11.7	15.2	33.8	50.5	-16.6	33.1
16	Metz	34	7.2	8.0	18.9	28.8	53.3	-24.5	29.5
17	Clermont	34	6.5	8.6	18.9	28.4	55.4	-27.1	28.1
18	Lorient	34	5.5	9.8	18.7	35.6	64.4	-28.9	26.4

---

Lyon vs Marseille Stats Preview: OM looking to maintain unbeaten run

• Marseille are unbeaten in eight consecutive Ligue 1 games
• Lyon have the fourth worst home record in Ligue 1 with just 2 wins out of 10
• Marseille have just one solitary road victory all season in the league
• Lyon home game average 3.20 goals with 6 out of 10 over 2.5 goals
• Marseille have failed to keep an away clean sheet all season in Ligue 1
• Both sides rank in the bottom half for cards obtained but have picked up 7 red cards between them.

---

How To Watch

• Lyon vs Marseille, Ligue 1
• Date and Time: Sunday February 4th, 19:45 (UK)
• How to Watch or Stream on TV (UK): TNT Sports

---

SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.