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Kick-off: Sunday, 21 February @13:00 GMT
Venue: Stade Velodrome (Marseille)
Live Stream: fuboTV (US), bet365 (non-US)
Head to head record
Saint-Etienne vs Marseille 0-2 (2015/2016 Ligue 1)
Saint Etienne vs Marseille 2-2 (2014/2015 Ligue 1)
Marseille vs Saint Etienne 2-1 (2014/2015 Ligue 1)
Saint Etienne vs Marseille 1-1 (2013/2014 Ligue 1)
Marseille vs Saint Etienne 2-1 (2012/2013 Ligue 1)
Marseille vs Saint Etienne prediction
All eyes will be on Stade Velodrome when Olympique Marseille and Saint Etienne take on each other on day 27 of the 2015/2016 Ligue 1 campaign. OM aim to move a little closer to the Champions League berth, but beating the in-form visitors is easier said than done.
OM playing below expectations
Olympique Marseille were on the verge of beating Nice at Allianz Riviera at the weekend, but les Aiglons eventually scored a late equalizer and spoiled OM’s party. As a result, Michel’s men remained in the bottom half of the standings, but they are certainly capable of booking their place in the Champions League. Marseille are five points behind top four in the Ligue 1 standings and a win over Saint Etienne would help them move one step closer to meeting the goal. OM head into the game following a 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao and it has to be noted that Aritz Aduriz’s goal silenced Stade Velodrome on Thursday evening. Michy Batshuayi is leading the team’s goal-scoring chart, but the Belgian attacker scored his last goal on 17 January against Caen. Anyhow, Batshuayi should continue to lead the line for the hosts when they take on Saint Etienne on Sunday evening.
Benjamin Mendy is a major doubt and he will be assessed on the match day, while Lucas Ocampos and Brice Dja Djedje are both out of contention with injury.
Les Verts eyeing a place in the Champions League
Saint Etienne quickly recovered from a 2-0 loss to PSG, with the team beating the likes of Rennes and Bordeaux on the road. Les Verts shared the spoils with Monaco in their last league match, but despite dropping two points in the game against les Rouges et Blancs Christophe Galtier’s men remained in top four. Unlike Marseille, Saint Etienne emerged triumphant in Thursday’s Europa League clash against Basel and they will be looking to build on the triumph when they square off against OM at Stade Velodrome on Sunday afternoon. Les Verts are eyeing their third consecutive win away from home, but I believe that the visitors would be happy with one point from the match. Jean-Christophe Bahebeck came as a substitute in the 3-2 win over Basel and scored the winner for les Verts in the Europa League game. The former PSG man is likely to be recalled to the starting XI and the opposition defenders should have him at bay.
Robert Beric and Pierre-Yves Polomat are both sidelined with injury, while Loic Perrin, Benjamin Corgnet and Ronael Pierre Gabriel are all doubtful and the trio will be monitored ahead of the kick-off.
Quick Facts
- Olympique Marseille recorded only one win in previous eight home matches
- OM failed to keep a clean sheet in last three games at Stade Velodrome
- Marseille scored 1+ goals in each of their last five meetings with Saint Etienne
- Saint Etienne recorded their last win over Marseille on 18 May, 2013
- Les Verts are after their third consecutive win on the road
Marseille vs Saint Etienne betting tip
Both Marseille and Saint Etienne are eyeing a place in the Champions League and there is every chance both teams will go for a win in Sunday’s showdown at Stade Velodrome. In previous three meetings between the two sides in the Ligue 1 nine goals in total were scored and I would not be surprised if we see goals galore in Marseille once again.
Tip: Both teams to score
Odds: 2.00 (1/1) @bet365
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