Marseille vs Reims Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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Roberto De Zerbi has begun the season with controversial quotes off the pitch but, on it, Marseille were very impressive as they routed Brest and they now welcome a worryingly out of shape Stade de Reims side to the Stade Velodrome this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 25th August, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – beIN Sports or beIN Sports de Espanol
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – Fubo or Fanatiz
MARSEILLE PREVIEW: DIFFICULT TO LOVE
Roberto De Zerbi has been trying to defend Mason Greenwood with fairly silly comments that a man as smart as the Italian knows are problematic so it is difficult to warm to Olympique de Marseille this season but they were genuinely excellent last weekend as they dispatched of last season’s third placed team in Ligue 1, Stade Brest.
The southerners began the season by scoring after just three minutes via the aforementioned Greenwood and he then scored his second of the match after Luiz Henrique had made it 2-0. Brest pulled a goal back just before half-time but then Luiz Henrique and then a penalty from another controversial forward, Elye Wahi, completed a 5-1 win for Marseille.
REIMS PREVIEW: REIMS BEGINNING A NEW ERA
Last season, after spending relatively heavily in the summer transfer window, Stade de Reims eventually parted company with Will Still with a couple of games to go as they drifted from the top six and the European spots. Over the summer, he has been replaced by Luka Elsner, who had performed extremely well at Le Havre.
Luka Elsner’s opening match in charge of Reims was overshadowed by the serious injury that Angel Gomes suffered with a delay of over 30 minutes as he received treatment for a collision. Lille then managed to complete a 2-0 victory with goals coming from Bafode Diakite in first-half stoppage-time and then Jonathan David in the second-half.
MARSEILLE TEAM NEWS: THE MARKET REMAINS OPEN
Marseille have an exciting but problematic attack but even after a busy summer transfer window, De Zerbi will be keen on adding players with Norwich City man Jonathan Rowe potentially arriving, especially with a new injury issue in Faris Moumbagna.
As well as Moumbagna, two of Marseille’s summer signings are also sidelined for this weekend with midfielder Ismael Kone and attacker Valentin Carboni both unavailable for the hosts.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Michael Amir Murillo, Balerdi, Cornelius, Pol Lirola; Hojbjerg, Merlin; Greenwood, Harit, Luiz Henrique; Wahi
UNAVAILABLE: Ruben Blanco (Injured), Kone (Injured), Carboni (Injured), Moumbagna (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
REIMS TEAM NEWS: KONE SUSPENDED
After receiving a red card in their 2-0 defeat at home to Lille, Luka Elsner will now to have to adapt to not having Amadou Kone for this weekend due to suspension for this one.
As well as Kone, they also have a couple of players that are sidelined through injury with Amine Salama and former Ajax and Danish attacker Mohamed Daramy.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Diouf; Ab. Kone, Okumu, Agbadou, Akieme; Atangana, Fofana, Munetsi; Ito, Diakite, Nakamura
UNAVAILABLE: Am. Kone (Suspended), Salama (Injured), Daramy (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MARSEILLE VS REIMS PREDICTION
Roberto De Zerbi will once again set out to be on the front foot with a demanding and hostile crowd but there is a sense that they can challenge for the Ligue 1 title this season after an impressive summer. Reims, on the other hand, had a poor and disrupted start to the season and are now missing a key man in midfield in Amadou Kone. Marseille will be confident of another entertaining and high-scoring victory at the Velodrome.
MARSEILLE VS REIMS TIP: MARSEILLE TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS
