Lille OSC and Olympique de Marseille are clashing at Stade Pierre Mauroy in round 9 of the French Ligue 1. Lille is still inconsistent, but they were able to win 2 of their last 3 games. Marseille was in much better form this season, but they haven’t won any of their last 3 games.
After winning the Ligue 1 title last season, it feels like Lille has become a different team, and they are incredibly inconsistent on both ends. Lille was playing against Salzburg in the Champions League earlier this week, and they were decent with 54% of ball possession, 2 shots on goal, 3 corner kicks, 0 big chances created, and 75% of the correct passes. After Lille conceded 2 goals from 2 penalty kicks, they were able to score a goal in the 62nd minute, but that was all we saw from them. Lille ended up losing this game 2-1. In Ligue 1, Lille is in the middle of the table with 11 points, 11 scored goals, and 14 conceded goals. David is the leading goalscorer for Lille with 4 goals, while Yilmaz added 3 goals and 2 assists. Lille is not used to playing in 2 competitions, and I think it’s stretching them thin, and as long as they are playing in the Champions League, they are not going to do well in Ligue 1.
After a fantastic start to the season, Marseille has cooled off, and they haven’t won any of their last 3 games, including the one against Galatasaray in the Europa League. With 14 points, a solid 14 scored goals, and 8 conceded goals, Marseille is now in 4th place of the Ligue 1 standings. Payet has scored 5 goals for Marseille so far this season, but he is injured, and since he got injured, Marseille has started to struggle. Dieng and Under added 3 goals each. In that game against Galatasaray, Marseille was a much better team with 64% of ball possession, 3 shots on goal, 6 corner kicks, 1 big chance created, and 89% of the correct passes. Unfortunately for Marseille, Galatasaray was defending well, and this game has ended in a 0-0 draw. Every season Marseille starts well, and every season they fail miserably, but maybe this season will be the exception and not the rule.
Marseille still hasn’t lost a game on the road this season, but they are now facing a solid Lille team. The trends are on Marseille’s side in this matchup, but neither team is in particularly good form, and for that reason, I will take the draw.