Olympique de Lyonnais vs. Olympique de Marseille – Ligue 1 Preview
Two of the biggest clubs in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 will battle it out this Sunday at the Stade de Gerland in a crucial Ligue 1 match. A defeat for either of the two could seriously dent their respective title hopes.
It’s a Champions League match
Olympique de Marseille coach, Didier Deschamps, has already described this game as ‘a Champions League match’. The reigning Ligue 1 champions head into this game four points behind leaders LOSC Lille, while Les Gones are six points behind Marseille.
While talking to the media, Deschamps said, "It will be a Champions League match, in relation to the table but also because they are two clubs for whom it is vital to qualify for the Champions League both for sporting and financial reasons.''
UEFA Champions League is an achievable task for Les Phoceens. However, the same cannot be said for Les Gones. Lyon are one point behind third-placed Paris Saint-Germain, who are occupying the final Champions League spot. Furthermore, a defeat at the hands
of Lyon might end Marseille’s title bid and a defeat for Lyon could take them further away from Champions League qualification.
Head to head
Olympique de Lyonnais
After two defeats in their last five outings, Lyon have already dampened their title hopes and a defeat on Sunday could take them further away from UEFA Champions League qualification. With only five games left to play, Claude Puel’s men are a massive ten
points away from leaders Lille – a deficit that has put them out of contention for the Championelle.
Argentine striker, Lisandro Lopez, has a 100 percent scoring record against Olympique de Marseille. The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 man has scored three goals in as many games against the Rhone rivals.
Lyon are yet to concede a goal at home in 2011. However, Les Gones have failed to beat Marseille at home since the 2005/06 season, when they beat Les Phoceens 2-1. Furthermore, Lyon have managed won just once in their last eight encounters against Marseille
since 2007.
Olympique de Marseille
Last Sunday, Marseille drew 1-1 at home to relegation-threatened Auxerre – a result that helped Lille regain their status as Ligue 1 leaders only four days after losing it.
Les Phoceens are now four points behind Lille and with five games to play in the season, a defeat at Stade de Gerland can put Deschamp’s title hopes in jeopardy. However, Marseille have not lost in their last eight away games since losing to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/OGC-Nice-c40111 in
December. Better still, Marseille have managed to score a goal or more in their last 12 games.
Previous Meeting
The two sides last met in the league on December 19, 2010, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Lisandro Lopez gave Lyon the lead in the 35th minute but http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Valbuena-c24690 scored in the 51st minute to save Marseille from defeat.
The last meeting between the two sides at the Stade de Gerland was the most memorable match of the 2009/10 Ligue 1 season. Olympique de Marseille were leading the game 4-2 at half time but the game ended in an unbelievable 5-5 draw.
Prediction
While http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 have been in great form of late, Olympique de Lyonnais have improved recently. The match is going to be a tough one but Lyon just might edge out the opposition.
Predicted final score: Lyon 1-0 Marseille
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