Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
This will be the standout fixture of the upcoming round in France. Whatever crises Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Marseille might be navigating, their head-to-head invariably attracts supporters across the country.
Olympique Lyonnais
The anticipated dip for Olympique Lyonnais, at least at the start of the season, has not materialised. The decision to keep the club in Ligue 1 has had a positive effect on the squad, who have collected six points from six and sit top of the standings. A 3:0 win over Metz came as no surprise, but an away win at RC Lens (1:0) deserves attention. Lens pushed hard for European places last season. The game was balanced (1.38-1.41 in xG), and the hosts even outshot them (18-11), but Lyon have a European-class striker in Georges Mikautadze, who scored the winner.
Olympique Marseille
Olympique Marseille, for their part, can call on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who returned to the team after a year in the Middle East. The Gabon international scored twice against Paris Saint-Germain (5:2). Yet neither he nor his teammates could do much against mid-standings Stade Rennais (0:1). The team produced 24 shots, but only two were on target. They will not be afforded endless chances to overhaul Paris Saint-Germain. However, as the first match at the Vélodrome showed, Marseille appear to have taken the lesson on board.
Olympique Lyonnais vs Olympique Marseille Prediction
In the derby every chance will be at a premium, so finishing should hold up. In the second half of last season the teams delivered a superb contest in Lyon, with a five-goal spectacle: 3:2 to Olympique de Marseille. Three of the previous four meetings also landed on the Total Over. With both attacks stronger than their defences, this match is well set for the Total Over.
