Ligue 1 | Gameweek 22

Feb 15, 2025 at 4pm UK

Stade Velodrome

Marseille vs St Etienne

Match preview

Heading into the 116th meeting between the two sides, Marseille continue to dominate at home, winning almost 75% of the 57 previous encounters at the Velodrome, an average of 2.3 points per game.

The last four meetings between the two sides have also ended in Marseille's favour, and another win for Roberto De Zerbi's men would make it five in a row against Saint-Etienne for the first time in their history.

De Zerbi's side have won twice against Les Verts this season, both at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, and have scored six unanswered goals in the league and cup.

Following their 2-0 win over Angers last weekend, OM can also claim their 1200th Ligue 1 victory with a win here, which would put them well clear at the top of the charts.

Marseille ended January in dismal form, losing to Lille in the cup and taking just one point from two games against Strasbourg and Nice.

De Zerbi's side have bounced back in February, however, beating Lyon and Angers to move six points clear of third, although they have little chance of catching Paris Saint-Germain at the top.

Remarkably, despite their second-place position, Marseille have yet to win back-to-back home games this season, but this will be an excellent opportunity to do so.

Marseille were already an entertaining side before De Zerbi's tactics were implemented, but they have now taken hold, with none of their last 60 matches ending in a goalless draw - their longest such run since the 1940s.

All these statistics make for ominous reading for Saint-Etienne, and after a promising start under new coach Eirik Horneland, things have unravelled rather quickly.

PSG were the only team to beat them in Horneland's first four games in charge, but they have now lost both of their games in February.

A week on from their 4-1 defeat at Lille, ASSE were beaten 6-1 at home by Rennes last Saturday, leaving them three points adrift of 15th-placed Nantes, with Le Havre closing the gap.

Les Verts are still without a win in 11 away games this season, a drought that stretches back to their last top-flight campaign, when they failed to win any of their final seven matches.

Saint-Etienne are also enjoying their worst defensive record for over 70 years, having conceded 45 goals in just 21 games, just two short of their worst ever tally at this stage of the season.

Recent Performance

Marseille Ligue 1 form:WWDLWW

Marseille form (all competitions):WLDLWW

Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form:WLDDLL

Team News

Marseille's Amar Dedic will be hoping to be handed a full debut by De Zerbi after coming off the bench in the win over Angers just days after joining the club, while another new signing has made a phenomenal impact at the club, with Amine Gouiri registering three assists in his first two games for the club.

Adrien Rabiot has also been in fine form, scoring in his last two games, and the France international also netted in both of the games against Saint-Etienne earlier this season.

On the injury front, Amine Harit (calf) and Valentin Rongier (illness) are doubts for the home side, while Faris Moumbagna remains on the sidelines with a torn cruciate ligament.

Saint-Etienne could hand a debut to Maxime Bernauer, who recently returned from injury after signing from Dinamo Zagreb, while Dylan Batubinsika is also back from suspension.

Ibrahima Wadji is close to returning to action, but Aimen Moueffek and Ben Old are expected to remain on the sidelines.

Zuriko Davitashvili won the Ligue 1 Player of the Month award in October but has scored just two goals in 14 appearances for club and country since then, both in defeat.

Possible starting lineup

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Cornelius; Luis Henrique, Bennacer, Hojbjerg, Merlin; Greenwood, Gouiri, Rabiot

Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:

Larsonneur; Appiah, Nade, Batubinsika, Petrot; Bouchouari, Ekwah, Mouton; Boakye, Stassin, Davitashvili