In the first matchweek back after Ligue 1's winter break, high-flying Marseille are set to host relegation-threatened Le Havre at Orange Velodrome on Sunday.

Les Olympiens will come into the game with confidence having beaten Saint-Etienne 4-0 in the Coupe de France last time out, while Le Club Doyen will be looking to start 2025 strongly after an embarrassing loss against fourth-tier Stade Briochin on December 22.

Match preview

Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille are currently second in Ligue 1 with 30 points after 15 matches, though they are 10 points behind regular title winners Paris Saint-Germain.

As the second half of the campaign kicks off, Les Olympiens have played one game fewer than their rivals in the race for European football, and are in a strong position as they look to directly qualify for next season's edition of the UEFA Champions League.

Level on points with third-placed Monaco, as well as three ahead of Nice and Lille, Sunday's hosts will be looking to make it five wins from six with victory this weekend.

During their current run of four wins from their last five, De Zerbi's side beat Monaco 2-1 at the start of December and drew 1-1 with Lille in their most recent league match.

Les Olympiens last tasted defeat when they lost 3-1 to Auxerre in early November, a match in which Marseille only managed a consolation goal through a penalty while the score was already 3-0.

In their first game of 2025, De Zerbi's team will be keen to set the tone for the second part of the season with a comfortable victory, and establish themselves as the frontrunners for second at the very least.

Meanwhile, Didier Digard's Le Havre are 17th in the table with 12 points from their 15 games, and are at serious risk of relegation this season.

Le Club Doyen were promoted from Ligue 2 last term and have struggled so far in the top flight, registering just four wins to go with their 11 losses to date.

Notably, Digard's side are the only team that have not drawn a single game this season, and it is fair to say that their lacklustre offensive displays have cost them vital points from potential stalemates given they are also the lowest scoring club in the division.

To make matters worse, their form has been consistently poor across the campaign, and Digard's side lost all of their fixtures in December, including a 1-0 loss on the road to Stade Briochin that eliminated them from the Coupe de France.

To set expectations ahead of this weekend, it important to highlight that three of Le Havre's four wins this season have come against teams in Ligue 1's bottom five, and therefore, while it is difficult to see them picking up all three points against Marseille, they may aim to lay a foundation for their survival with a respectable draw.

Team News

Marseille's Faris Moumbagna is nearing a return from his cruciate ligament injury, though he is not likely to be back in action until later this month at the earliest.

Meanwhile, left-back Ulisses Garcia made his return from injury with a substitute appearance last time out against Saint-Etienne and should be available this weekend, though Quentin Merlin is likely to continue to start.

However, the game may come too soon for goalkeeper Ruben Blanco to contribute, so expect to see Geronimo Rulli between the sticks and Jeffrey de Lange backing him up on the bench.

Elsewhere, Chancel Mbemba, who has been frozen out by the club, will not take part and is likely to leave Les Olympiens this January.

As for Le Havre, Andy Logbo made a return to action following a cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for over a year with a late substitute appearance against Stade Briochin.

While the forward may not start on Sunday, he could get some minutes late on if Andre Ayew or Antoine Joujou begin to tire.

Additionally, absent forwards Yann Kitala, Josue Casimir and Issa Soumare, as well as right-sided defender Arouna Sangante, are all expected to be available early this month, and may even make the bench this weekend.

Marseille possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Kondogbia, Balerdi, Murillo; Henrique, Rongier, Hojbjerg, Merlin; Rabiot, Greenwood; Maupay

Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Pembele, Lloris, Kinkoue; Nego, Kechta, Toure, Operi; Targhalline, Ayew, Joujou

We say: Marseille 2-0 Le Havre

Marseille and Le Havre have experienced contrasting seasons so far, with the hosts being second while the visitors are second from bottom.

Given that Digard's side have earned almost all of their points against teams near the foot of the table, it is difficult to see them winning this weekend, and considering that they have yet to draw a single game this term, it is unlikely they will manage to avoid defeat against De Zerbi's men either.


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