Marseille vs Montpellier Prediction & Betting Tips (25 February)

After having already experienced a huge period of turbulence at the start of the season, Olympique de Marseille is plunging back into crisis. Dumped in the race for Europe, the Olympians now find themselves in 9th place in the ranking with a delay of 8 units on the top 5 after having aligned a very long series of 6 matches without the slightest victory in Ligue 1. Unable to win a single match in 2024, the Phocéens are on the other hand still engaged in Europe after drawing in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs against Shakhtar then winning against these same Ukrainians on Thursday evening at the Vélodrome 3-1. In the league, however, they have just lost twice in the last 3 days. Beaten in Lyon 1-0, they showed themselves incapable of gaining the upper hand over a poorly ranked Metz 1-1, before falling to Brest in numerical superiority last weekend 1-0. Following this setback, coach Gennaro Gattuso was dismissed from his position and Jean-Louis Gasset arrived to take over until the end of the season.

A few hundred kilometers further west, this Montpellier team did not not achieve the season she hoped for either. In difficulty this year, the MHSC is only in 14th position in the ranking with exactly the same number of points on the clock as the Nantes play-off. Michel Der Zakarian's players had not particularly shone in recent weeks, losing against Rennes 2-1, Nice in the Coupe de France 1-4 and Lyon 1-2. On the other hand, last week, the Héraultais gave themselves a big breath of fresh air by winning largely against a direct competitor in the race to maintain their position, Metz 3-0.

For his first on the OM bench in the championship, Jean-Louis Gasset should be deprived like Thursday of the midfielder Rongier, the young Nadir and Ruiz, and the now unwanted Gueye. On top of that, right-back Clauss, who was publicly attacked by his leaders last week, is suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards. Left side Murillo, who has been out of action in recent weeks, is uncertain. Suspended in C3, Balerdi makes his return. Veretout was injured on Thursday, like goalkeeper Pau Lopez who was withdrawn at the last minute against Brest. Up front, the experienced Aubameyang (15 goals and 8 assists in all competitions, 6 goals in L1) should get off to a good start, having scored again on Thursday. He is one of the only ones to survive in a particularly disappointing offensive sector this year. Because behind him, the top Olympian scorer is the Senegalese Sarr with only 3 goals, even if he scored in C3 against Shakhtar.

Like Thursday, Gasset could align his team in 4-2-3-1. For his part, Michel Der Zakarian will still deplore a few absences for this trip to the Vélodrome. Indeed, the central defender Jullien and the young attacker Gueguin (18 years old) are still stuck in the infirmary at the moment. Coming out injured against Metz, defender Omeragic is already out of this match. Top scorer for this team in the league with 7 goals, Akor Adams has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks in favor of Nordin and the Jordanian Al-Taamari. Captain and playmaker Savanier (5 goals, 5 assists) is performing well.