Saint Etienne vs Olympique Marseille Prediction: Redemption Meets Dominance in Ligue 1

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Football is the best unpredictable sport and this Sunday will see two clubs taking hugely different paths. Saint Etienne, struggling so hard against the shadows of relegation, hosts Olympique Marseille in what is set to be an emotionally charged, tactically shrewd, and high-stakes affair. For Saint Etienne, the focus lies on what happens after an embarrassing defeat while, for Marseille, this clash signifies keeping their dreams for the title alive. Let's head into what could be an intriguing Round 14 contest.

Saint Etienne comes into this match with a desperate need for redemption. As 15th on the table, they have been profitless with a record of four wins and eight losses so far. The team had its most recent outing-a 5-0 spank by Rennes that made everyone realize how frail the defense has become considering the ill-discipline included-in shortcomings. Coach Olivier Dall’Oglio really needs to rally his troops, especially because the enemy is formidable.

Olivier Dall'Oglio will, therefore, reconvene the members of his team around the 'keeping-it-tight' formation of 5-4-1 for this match. All reliance will basically be on exploiting space when pressurized on the counter. The aggressiveness of Marseille's high press will see Saint Etienne require transition speed from defense to attack. The trick though lay in staying disciplined, particularly following their latest red card incident.

At present Olympique de Marseille is at an impressive high under the progressive management of Roberto De Zerbi. Currently second-placed in Ligue 1, the team has won three of their last five games, the most recent of which was a hard-fought narrow win against Monaco, culminating 2-1. The visitors come to town with an aggressive 3-4-2-1 setup; against such dynamic attacking structures, a Saint Etienne defense already shaky will have great cause for concern.

Roberto De Zerbi's 3-4-2-1 formation is all about controlling and creating difficulties in the opposite camp. The wing-backs stretch the team while a central midfield dominating the tempo takes charge of the game. The strength of the Olympians comes from overloading the attacking third and creating a multitude of options to score. Count on possession-filling performance to create opportunities for Saint Etienne's defense.

The history of these two clubs speaks about the advantage with which Marseille has carried it. In 20 Ligue 1 meetings, Marseille has emerged victorious 11 times as compared to Saint Etienne's 4 wins, with 5 draws. The last time that Saint Etienne won against this team seems like an old story, and the gap is made wider by the current gulf in form.

Indeed, this match could tell a classic tale of survival against ambition. An even heavier dent has now been made into the confidence of Saint Etienne after their recent elimination against Rennes. With their defensive woes and reliance on reactive football, the gaping vulnerability is provided in attacking strength by a team like Marseille. Dall'Oglio will have to build upon this performance and inspire his players to apply a defensive game plan at least near perfection against a top team like Marseille, but such perfection rarely lasts against them.

Marseille, however, comes with momentum and intent. The tactical mind of De Zerbi coupled with the visitors' exploiting of the wide areas would stretch Saint Etienne's defense. But, then again, Ligue 1 is up to its surprises, and a pinch of the home advantage might spice their home game even more

• Olympique Marseille Wins @ 1.687 Odds
• Olympique Marseille Wins @ 1.64 Odds
• Correct Score 0-3 @ 12.00 Odds