Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
The opening round of Ligue 1 was short on goals, with only two of nine matches producing more than one. Both Marseille and Paris FC were among the low scorers — and both for the wrong reasons.
Marseille
Marseille began their campaign with a defeat away at Rennes, but expectations remain high: a medal finish is the minimum target. Their pre-season suggested promise, with 1:1 draws against Valencia and Sevilla followed by an impressive 3:1 win over Aston Villa. At the Vélodrome last season, Marseille were formidable: 10 wins and four draws in 17 matches. Even Rennes, who beat them last week, were soundly beaten 4:2 in this fixture late last term. That strong home record underlines why they are heavy favourites against a newly promoted side.
Paris FC
Paris FC prepared with exclusively French-speaking opposition, recording three wins and two draws. The best of those results came against Nantes (3:2), though that side finished only 13th last season. They were excellent away from home in Ligue 2, finishing second in the road table, but the leap in class is stark. A top-half finish would be considered a huge success.
Marseille vs Paris FC Prediction
Marseille should be far too strong at home for Paris FC. With their attacking depth, scoring more than once shouldn’t be a problem — as it wasn’t in the majority of their home games last season.
