Marseille will look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat on the road last weekend when they welcome bottom-of-the-table Angers to the Stade Velodrome on Friday. In Ligue 1's opening fixture of the weekend, Marseille could go top with a big win against opponents they have enjoyed inflicting a few thrashings on in recent times. After one of the most astonishing matches you will see in Europe this season in beating Lyon 3-2 the week previous, Marseille were brought crashing back down to earth on Sunday. Despite beating their rivals playing with 10 men for 85 minutes, Roberto De Zerbi's side were unable to break down Strasbourg, going down 1-0 in Alsace. That result ended OM's unbeaten start which had seen them take 13 points from a possible 15, and sit level on points with Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco at the top. However, those two clubs pulled clear with wins at the weekend, but Marseille are still in the top three heading into this matchday, and should have the quality to go back level on points for the time being at least.
After the win at Lyon, De Zerbi claimed that it is "not serious" to be thinking about winning a title in his first season, while PSG and Monaco have both spent years building their teams. Marseille have clicked under the Italian though, as their tally of 15 goals in their opening five games was their best in 70 years, with Sunday's defeat seeing them draw a blank for the first time under De Zerbi. A seven-goal margin of victory would be needed for Marseille to end Friday night top of the tree, but they have won the last three meetings with Angers, scoring 11 goals in the process, and the struggling outfit look unlikely the become just the second visiting team to win at the Velodrome in 2024, after PSG.
On their instant return from Ligue 2, Angers do not appear to have improved at all since their woeful relegation in 2022-23. That season saw Le SCO go down with just 18 points from 38 games, and they are on course for a similar tally, having taken just two points from their opening six this time around. After losing their opening three, Angers got off the mark with a pair of 1-1 draws against Strasbourg and Nantes, but they were poor again at home to Reims at the weekend, losing 3-1 in a comfortable afternoon for the visiting side. Despite being the huge favourites to be relegated again, Angers rewarded manager Alexandre Dujeux with a new contract during the week that will keep him at the club until 2026, with his achievements last season seemingly still at the forefront of everyone's minds, seeing him as the best man to potentially bring them back up if their expected drop to Ligue 2 does occur.
Team News
Marseille duo Valentin Rongier and Bamo Meite are edging closer to a return, but are not expected to feature until after the international break, with left-back Quentin Merlin also making good progress in his recovery from a thigh problem. Knee injuries will mean Bilal Nadir and Faris Moumbagna are certainties to miss out here, while Ruben Blanco is on his way back, and Leonardo Balerdi will return from suspension. Mason Greenwood has had a huge impact since joining from Manchester United in the summer, as only Bradley Barcola (six) has netted more Ligue 1 goals than the Englishman so far (five). Angers will hope Bamba Dieng can return from an ankle injury as soon as possible, as his proven goalscoring record in this division may be crucial, but he is unlikely to make a return against his former club. Justin-Noel Kalumba's nasty ankle injury will keep him out for a few more months, but returns after the international break have been pencilled in for Sidiki Cherif, Jacques Ekomie and Joseph Lopy. Marseille possible starting lineup: Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Cornelius, Brassier; Kondogbia, Hojbjerg; Greenwood, Harit, Luis Henrique; Maupay
A hapless Angers side have been leaking goals for fun at a similar rate to which Marseille have been scoring them, so there only looks like one winner in this contest. The host's defeat last weekend should not be too demoralising, considering how good their start has been, and they are set to close the gap on the two sides above them here. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Key Battle: Greenwood vs Angers Defense
Mason Greenwood, a key player for Marseille, will be looking to continue his goalscoring form in this game. His ability to create chances and find the back of the net will be vital for Marseille's success. Angers' defense, on the other hand, has been struggling to keep clean sheets and will face a tough challenge against Greenwood's attacking prowess. This battle will be crucial to the outcome of the match. If Greenwood is able to find a way past the Angers defense, it could lead to a convincing victory for Marseille.
Prediction: Marseille to Win Comfortably
Given Angers' woeful start to the season and Marseille's attacking strength, the home side is expected to win comfortably. Marseille should be able to exploit Angers' defensive frailties and secure a victory. However, it will be interesting to see how Greenwood fares against Angers' defense and if he can add to his goal tally.
