Marseille welcome Strasbourg to the Orange Vélodrome in Ligue 1’s Round 22 with Champions League ambitions firmly in sight. Fourth in the table on 39 points, Marseille boast one of the league’s strongest home records (7 wins from 10, 27 goals scored). Strasbourg arrive in seventh on 30 points, eyeing an outside European push but hampered by an inconsistent away return (3 wins, 6 defeats in 11). Form is contrasting too: Marseille’s last five read “LDWWL”, Strasbourg’s “LLWWD”.
The key battleground is Marseille’s attack against Strasbourg’s fragile away defence. Marseille average 2.7 goals per home game and often strike late, with 22 of their 46 league goals coming after the 60th minute. Strasbourg concede 1.8 goals per game on the road and are particularly vulnerable in the final quarter-hour. Offensively, they lean heavily on J. Panichelli (11 league goals), but he’ll miss the service of suspended I. Doukoure and injured E. Emegha, while several others are doubtful.
Verdict: Marseille’s firepower and strong home form, combined with Strasbourg’s absentees and away frailty, point towards a home win in a match likely to feature goals.
