Marseille vs. Montpellier: Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 31)

Initial Thoughts

On 59 points from 28 games, Marseille are having their best season this century. Second in the league and closing in on PSG, Igor Tudor’s club could reduce the gap to just 4 points on Friday.

The Narrative

PSG’s seven point lead could easily be closed down by the end of the season. Christophe Galtier’s team have been hit and miss in recent months, with home and away defeats to Bayern Munich seeing PSG crash out of the Champions League and suffering four losses in the French top flights since the start of the year.

So, having finished runners up in the league twice in the last three seasons, that patchy run of form from Messi and co will give Marseille real hope they can clinch a first Ligue 1 title since the 2009/10 campaign.

Tudor’s side have been on an impressive run over the past few months - racking up 11 victories from their last 15 league games, including big wins against Lyon, Monaco and Rennes.

In addition, no French side has a better away record this season. Marseille have amassed 35 points from a possible 42 away from home, and a 2-1 win at Reims before the international break made it eight consecutive wins on the road - just one victory short of the all time Ligue 1 record.

But Les Olympiens will have to navigate a ‘trickier than it looks’ fixture when they take on 11th placed Montpellier in the first game of the weekend.

Nuts & Bolts

Marseille’s team sheet this season features a trio of Premier League misfits, with ex-Gunner Matteo Guendouzi and ex-Man United players Eric Bailly and Alexis Sanchez all playing key roles in the south of France this campaign.

Sanchez has racked up eight goals in his last 14 league games and is arguably in his best form since leaving North London.

The problem is: Marseille’s home form has let them down badly. The Stade Velodrome is a notoriously rowdy place, and the combustible atmosphere seems to be having an inhibiting effect on the home side of late.

Tudor’s team haven’t won a match in front of their home fans since mid-January, and four of their five League defeats this season have come at the Stade Velodrome. 

That doesn't bode particularly well as Marseille prepare to welcome Montpellier, who are unbeaten in their last six games, with five wins and a draw since new manager Michel Der Zakarian took over back in early February.

Montpellier come into the game on a three game hot streak, and having won both of their last two matches on the road.

Homestand Picks

All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets

Montpellier or Tie (+163)

All the pressure is on the home side here, and the recent formbook suggests Montpellier are well placed to snatch at least a point on Friday.

Sanchez anytime goal (+148)

The ex-Man United man has three goals in his last two matches and we see him as the most likely candidate to find the net against for the home side.

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