Nantes welcome Olympique Marseille to the Stade de la Beaujoire for this round nine clash in Ligue 1. The two teams come into the match from recent defeats; Nantes fell 3-1 against Strasbourg, while Marseille suffered an intense defeat of 3-0 to Paris Saint-Germain. Nantes is currently positioned in 12th place and is on a six-game winless run. Marseille wants to keep their hope of Champions League qualification alive with an important win. Both teams come into the pitch with a 4-2-3-1 formation, led by experienced managers Antoine Kombouare for Nantes and Roberto De Zerbi for Marseille. This should be an intense and closely contested match with plenty on the line and past encounters favoring Marseille.
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Indeed, Nantes' season has been inconsistent-as can be seen from their recent form this season: three draws and two losses. Indeed, Kombouare's charges have barely managed to see out the end of games without being pegged back and letting in expensive goals and points. Their last defeat to Strasbourg was pretty much a decent attacking display, but they created six shots on target and two big chances and were missing that final touch to gain the game in their favor. Although Nantes was sometimes solid at the back, they have leaked nine goals in the last seven outings, proving how tactically poor they are in the backline.
Kombouare's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation will probably look to dominate the midfield through double pivots, fast transitions, and quick counter-attacks. Nantes will have to be compact with the view of not allowing any space for Marseille's creative midfielders to work in. With their customarily poor defensive record, Nantes might be more pragmatic and have the full-backs at positions, not necessarily higher up the pitch. The front three who play behind the striker have to contribute a lot in pressing, as well as quick breaks, while Kombouare's big priority will be keeping things tight at the back and maybe trying to take advantage of any set-piece opportunities.
Probable Lineup
Olympique Marseille
Marseille have been more competitive this season and currently lie in fourth, but their coach Roberto De Zerbi brings a sharp attacking style to the team. In their recent 3-0 loss to PSG, Marseille showed flaws in their solidity in defense and retention of the ball. The side of De Zerbi looked a shadow of themselves as they had only 25% possession and just one shot on target. But as for Nantes, their head-to-head against it in the last 20 meetings is some consolation for their having led it 10 times.
Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille also plays in a 4-2-3-1, whereby much emphasis is always on having possession of the ball and immediately pressing high when not possessing the ball. An attack-minded coach, De Zerbi's tactical play centers around moving the ball quickly and creating overloads out wide; however, knowing Nantes struggle against teams that press, he will most likely instruct his team to win it back higher up the pitch. With that in mind, the attacking trio behind the striker will press high in support of the lone striker, while the two central midfielders drop deep to disrupt Nantes' buildup play. Therein, much tight marking of key creatives by Marseille players will be paramount.
Probable Lineup
Head to Head
Historically, Marseille boast a higher winning record in this fixture: 10 wins to Nantes' 5, besides five draws. In the last meeting in February, Marseille sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory, showcasing their solid defense and finishing ability. Going into this match, Marseille remain unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Nantes-a run that heaps much psychological pressure on the home team. Recent trends between these sides indeed suggest a good chance of cards, with 4.5 or more booked in 7 of the last 8 matches between these teams, and it could be quite feisty. Lower corner counts in their history, too-under 10.5 in 8 of the last 10-might indicate a game that will be centered, rather than wing-based, attacks.
Expert Betting Tips
With Nantes desperate to end a winless streak and Marseille determined to get their spot near the top, both teams will go into the match with a certain level of urgency. Their vulnerability in defense may easily make them susceptible to Marseille's attacking quality, especially if De Zerbi's men capitalize on their high-pressing game. Kombouare's Nantes will have to be very wary, pinpointing fewer mistakes and capitalizing on any that might be created.
With Marseille's sharper attack and pressing style, this gives them the edge over Nantes, whose defensive lapses could prove costly. Though Nantes might fight valiantly, it would be more of the same old story: Marseille wins through due to consistent and tactically disciplined play in this Ligue 1 match.
- Away/Draw & Under 3.5 Goals @ 1.79 Odds
- Away Win @ 2.03 Odds
- Away Win 2-1 @ 8.50 Odds
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