The Matchday 4 clash in Ligue 1 between Marseille and Lorient will take place on September 12 at the Velodrome Stadium. Marseille vs. Lorient: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Marseille
After an unsuccessful away game against Rennes in the opening round of the championship (0-1), Marseille bounced back with a dominant 5-2 win at home against Paris, but then suffered another defeat in a crucial match against Lyon (0-1). With three points, the team is currently in 10th place in the standings. Marseille has failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 consecutive league matches. However, they have won 8 of their last 9 home games in this tournament, despite conceding in seven of them.
- Marseille has scored at least 3 goals in 7 of their last 9 home Ligue 1 encounters.
- Both teams have scored in 12 of the last 14 games played at their home ground in the league.
- Marseille has conceded in 15 of their last 16 home matches in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Marseille (4-2-3-1)
Geronimo Rulli – Amir Murillo, Leonardo Balerdi, C.J. Egan-Riley, Timothy Weah – Angel Gomes, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Mason Greenwood, Bilal Nadir, Amad Traore – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Key defender C.J. Egan-Riley will miss the match due to suspension. Another defender, Facundo Medina, has recovered from injury, as has forward Igor Paixao. The club has also added defenders Benjamin Pavard, Nayef Aguerd, and Emerson, as well as midfielders Matthew O'Riley and Arthur Vermeeren.
Lorient
The team started with a narrow defeat to Auxerre (0-1), then confidently defeated Rennes (4-0), who were reduced to nine men by the 11th minute, but in the last round, despite home support, suffered a heavy 1-7 loss to Lille. This was Lorient's biggest defeat in Ligue 1 history, conceding 7 goals in a single game for the first time. Like Marseille, the club has only three points, but Lorient is in 15th place in the standings. Over three matches, Olivier Pantaloni's side has conceded a total of 8 goals – the most in the tournament.
- At least three goals have been scored in 7 of Lorient's last 9 league matches.
- The team has lost 9 of their last 11 Ligue 1 games.
- Lorient has scored at least one goal in 6 of their last 8 matches in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Lorient (3-4-3)
Bingourou Kamara – Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye, Montassar Talbi, Igor Silva – Panos Katseris, Arthur Avom, Laurent Abergel, Arsen Kwassi – Karim Dermane, Sambou Soumano, Tosin Aiyegun.
Goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo has returned to Lorient, and the club has also loaned defender Bamo Meite from Marseille.
Referee
Thomas Leonard (France)
Matches – 21 (Ligue 1, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 76;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 25;
Penalties – 19%.
Match Prediction: Marseille vs. Lorient
In 2 of Marseille's 3 matches this Ligue 1 season, only 1 goal was scored, but both of these low-scoring games took place away from home for Roberto De Zerbi's side. The home match against Paris was vibrant, offering spectators 7 goals. Overall, the 3-goal mark has been surpassed in 7 of the last 9 league games at Marseille's home ground.
Lorient also enjoys putting on a show for the fans, with a total of 13 goals scored in their 3 matches this Ligue 1 season – only Lille has a higher tally (15 goals). In head-to-head encounters with Marseille in the league, the teams have combined for at least 3 goals in 6 of the last 7 games. This trend is also evident in Lorient's away matches in Ligue 1: at least 3 goals have been scored in 8 of their last 11 games.
I believe there are all the prerequisites for Marseille and Lorient to have another high-scoring encounter. Prediction – Total over 2.5 goals
