Marseille will look to maintain their position at the top of the Ligue 1 table as they travel north on Saturday night to take on fourth-placed Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Marseille have bounced back from their shaky start to their season, in which they lost two of their opening three Ligue 1 matches, by winning their next five on the spin.
The latest of which came in a 6-2 thrashing at home to Le Havre, a result that took them top of the Ligue 1 table after PSG’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Strasbourg the night before.
However, Roberto De Zerbi’s men suffered defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday night, as they lost 2-1 in Lisbon against Sporting CP on an evening I landed a goals bet.
Lens started the campaign in a similarly slow fashion to their visitors, as they lost two of their opening four Ligue 1 outings, against Lyon and PSG respectively.
However, Pierre Sage’s men have won three and drawn one of their next four (W3-D1-L0) – including an impressive 3-0 victory over rivals Lille – to propel them up into fourth position in the Ligue 1 table, just two points behind their visitors.
How the bookies view it: Marseille marginal favourites
Marseille travel to Northern France as slight favourites to record their sixth consecutive Ligue 1 victory, with BOYLE Sports pricing an away success at 13/10.
Lens are 6/4 to make it four wins from their last five league matches, whilst the draw is 12/5.
Head to head: Home not advantage last season
This fixture was won by the away side on both occasions last season, with Lens winning 0-1 at the Velodrome back in March, whilst OM won 1-3 on their last visit to the Bollaert.
Players to watch: More magic for Mason?
Mason Greenwood’s excellent season continued last Saturday evening, as he scored four goals in his side’s 6-2 thrashing of Le Harve.
The ex-Manchester United attacker now has six goals and three assists in his nine appearances in Ligue 1 this campaign and the 10/11 on offer for him to Score or Assist at Bet365 on Saturday night appeals to me here.
Predicted line-ups:
Lens will have Pierre Ismaelo Ganiou available against after missing the victory over Paris FC last time out through suspension.
Marseille are expected to be without Amine Gouiri, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Facundo Medina and Hamed Traore once again through injury.
Lens: Risser, Grandit, Baidoo, Sarr, Aguilar, Sangare, Thomasson, Udol, Thauvin, Guilavogui, Edouard
Marseille: Rulli, Pavard, Balerdi, Aguerd, Emerson, O’Riley, Hojbjerg, Greenwood, Gomes, Paixao, Aubameyang
Anything else catch the eye?
Both of these two teams arrive into this clash in superb form domestically, with Marseille in particular scoring goals for fun, but I’m expecting a tight encounter in Northern France between these two on Saturday evening.
OM’s opening eight Ligue 1 matches this season have averaged 3.50 goals per game, but that figure drops to 1.50 goals per game when only including their four meetings with top-half sides, with three (75%) going Under 2.5 Goals.
What’s more, 3/4 (75%) of Lens’ Ligue 1 clashes against teams inside the top-10 have also featured fewer than three goals, so the 11/10 for a repeat at BOYLE Sports appeals to me here.
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