Ligue 1 | Gameweek 15

Dec 14, 2024 at 4pm UK

Stade Velodrome

Marseillevs.Lille

Match preview

While most of the top four were involved in European action in midweek, Marseille had the luxury of a full week off to prepare for this crucial encounter.

Roberto De Zerbi's men will be keen to maintain the momentum of three successive victories, with last week's 2-0 win over Saint-Etienne coming on the back of impressive results against Lens and Monaco.

Heading into their final league game of the year, Marseille have the chance to record four successive league victories for the first time in 2024, and their recent run has moved them above Monaco into second place on goal difference.

Paris Saint-Germain's slip-ups have also allowed the OM to close the gap on the champions to five points, just as Luis Enrique's side looked set to run away with the title.

However, Marseille's home form has been less than impressive, winning just six of their 15 Ligue 1 games at the Velodrome this year.

Failure to win here will see the club equal their lowest number of home league wins in a calendar year in the entire 21st century, having also recorded just six in 2015.

So far this season, only relegation candidates Angers and Le Havre have taken fewer points from home games, but De Zerbi's men did record an impressive 2-1 win over Monaco last time out.

The hosts also enjoy playing Lille at home, with just one defeat in 13 Ligue 1 home games, but victories have been hard to come by at both venues, with just one win in the last eight head-to-head meetings.

It will also be a difficult night for the home side if Lille can replicate the form of recent months, which has seen them go on a 15-match unbeaten run.

That run was extended by a 3-2 win over Sturm Graz in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Hakon Arnar Haraldsson scored for the second game in a row to give Bruno Genesio's men a vital three points.

Lille now sit in the top eight of the Champions League after six games and have secured their place in the knockout stages, with the only question being whether they will progress directly to the last 16 or via the play-offs.

Ten of their games during this impressive unbeaten run have come in Ligue 1 and Les Dogues can equal their previous best, set in their title-winning season of 2020-21, if they avoid defeat on Saturday.

However, with Monaco and Marseille in excellent form and Lyon keeping a close eye on them, there is still little margin for error in the hunt for Champions League places.

Recent Performance

Marseille Ligue 1 form:LWLWWW

Lille Ligue 1 form:WDDWDW

Lille form (all competitions):DWWDWW

Team News

Injuries to Ulisses Garcia and Pol Lirola saw De Zerbi test a very attacking 3-4-2-1 formation against Saint-Etienne last week, with Adrien Rabiot more advanced and Luis Henrique playing as a wing-back, but he may be more cautious against stronger opposition.

With Amine Harit, Faris Moumbagna and Valentin Carboni all sidelined, the home side's attacking options are limited, but with Mason Greenwood fit and firing, he will be their best chance of winning this weekend, taking his tally to 10 league goals after scoring again last weekend.

Lille were without influential winger Edon Zhegrova against Sturm in midweek, with Genesio explaining that the player had been playing with an injury and he wanted to give him a few days off to recover.

Angel Gomes remains sidelined with a calf injury, but his namesake Andre Gomes is back in contention after missing out on the midweek win as he was not part of Lille's Champions League squad.

Defenders Tiago Santos and Samuel Umtiti also remain sidelined, as do Ethan Mbappe and Nabil Bentaleb, who have both missed much of the season so far.

Possible starting lineup

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Kondogbia, Merlin; Rongier, Hojbjerg, Rabiot; Greenwood, Maupay, Luis Henrique

Lille possible starting lineup:

Chevalier; Mandi, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Andre Gomes; Zhegrova, Haraldsson, Sahraoui; David