Nantes vs Marseille Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Nantes vs Marseille on and what time does it start? Nantes vs Marseille will take place on Friday 1st September, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Nantes vs Marseille? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Nantes vs Marseille on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Nantes vs Marseille
Where can I stream Nantes vs Marseille in the UK? If Nantes vs Marseille is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
NANTES
Despite winning the Coupe de France in 2022, reaching the final in 2023 as well as the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, Nantes only just narrowly survived relegation to Ligue 2. The reduction of Ligue 1 from 20 to 18 teams over the summer will mean that their narrow survival and the margin of escape has been closed so it could well be another very difficult campaign.
They have started the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season by collecting just one point from their opening three matches, beginning the fourth match day sitting third from bottom. Their opening game of the season saw them defeated 2-1 at home by Toulouse, the side that beat them in last season’s Coupe de France final, in a game in which they took an early lead. After that they suffered a comfortable 2-0 loss at ten-man Lille before sharing a spectacular 3-3 draw against Monaco, albeit they did lead that match 2-0 and then 3-1 at stages.
MARSEILLE
There was another summer upheaval and beginning of a new project at Olympique de Marseille over the summer. L’OM decided to change the style of football almost entirely, moving on from Igor Tudor to Marcelino. Things started badly for Marcelino with Marseille’s UEFA Champions League third qualifying round penalty shootout defeat at home to Panathinaikos but, ahead of the fourth match day of the campaign, they currently sit second in the table.
The southerners began the season with a come-from-behind victory against Stade Reims at the Velodrome before then sharing a very disappointing 2-2 draw away to newly-promoted Metz. However, last weekend Marseille comfortably defeated Stade Brest back at the Velodrome, moving them on to seven points, below Monaco on goal difference.
THE TEAM NEWS
NANTES
Pierre Aristouy could do with making some changes but he has quite a small squad and is without his key goalkeeper for this one, Alban Lafont, who remains injured.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Descamps; Pierre-Gabriel, Pallois, Castelletto; Coco, Chirivella, Augusto, Merlin; Simon, Bamba; Mohamed
UNAVAILABLE: Centonze (Injured), Zeze (Injured), Lafont (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MARSEILLE
Olympique de Marseille will likely keep the same eleven as in their victory against Brest last weekend as they continue to be without the injured Geoffrey Kondogbia.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Lopez; Clauss, Gigot, Mbemba, Lodi; Sarr, Rongier, Veretout, Harit; Ndiaye, Aubameyang
UNAVAILABLE: Kondogbia (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
This is one of the more one-sided affairs, at least on paper, in Ligue 1 this weekend. It is far too early to suggest that Nantes definitely will struggle against the drop this season but their start has not been an entirely unsurprising poor one. Marseille, on the other hand, are expecting to finish in the top three this season and, despite being away from home, they are the firm favourites for this one and should make it ten points out of a possible 12.
TIP: MARSEILLE TO WIN
