In Ligue 1’s return, Olympique de Marseille and RC Strasbourg are set to clash at the Stade Vélodrome. Sitting sixth and ninth in the table ahead of the match, Marseille and Strasbourg promise a lively encounter as they battle for crucial points.
Marseille boasts an unbeaten streak of 16 Ligue 1 games against Strasbourg, with the last defeat dating back to April 2005. However, recent encounters have ended in draws, injecting a glimpse of hope for the visiting side.
OM are unbeaten in their last six Ligue 1 games, they've rebounded from a shaky period where they lost four of their previous six matches. Strasbourg arrives with an impressive three-game winning streak in Ligue 1, and look to start the year how they finished 2023.
Marseille's strength lies not only in their form but also in their home record as they’re undefeated in all 12 home games across competitions this season. The visitors, however, carry momentum, setting the stage for an intense clash between Marseille's home invincibility and Strasbourg's winning streak.
Patrick Vieira, the Strasbourg manager, spoke before the match: "I believe OM’s system will stay unchanged. Gattuso has established a certain equilibrium with the 5-man defense, the 3 midfielders, and the 2 forwards. When examining the Marseille squad, there are still experienced and high-quality players. Despite the absences, it will be a strong Marseille team."
Possible starting XIs:
Marseille: Lopez - Clauss, Meïté, Gigot, Balerdi, Lodi- Veretout, Kondogbia, Onana - Aubameyang, Vitinha
Strasbourg: Sels - Guilbert, Perrin, Sylla, Senaya - Mwanga, Sissoko, Diarra - Angelo, Gameiro, Bakwa
