Marseille’s recent upturn in form has reignited their European ambitions domestically, with three consecutive Ligue 1 wins for the first time since April. This impressive streak comes after a string of disappointing results, where they managed to pick up only three wins in their previous 15 matches (D5, L7). Notably, Marseille’s recent victories have seen them score two goals in each game, a stark contrast to their previous eight matches where they failed to find the back of the net on five occasions.
Defensively, Marseille has been outstanding in their last six Ligue 1 home games, keeping a clean sheet and not conceding a single goal. This remarkable record spans over 600 minutes and is their best defensive run since late 1998. As they prepare to face the league’s lowest-scoring team, relegation battlers Clermont, this weekend, Marseille will be confident in their ability to extend this impressive defensive streak.
Clermont, on the other hand, have struggled to find the back of the net consistently this season. They managed to secure a valuable point in their last match against high-flying Lille, but it was their third goalless draw of the campaign. In fact, in nine out of their 15 Ligue 1 games, Clermont have failed to trouble the opposition goalkeeper. Although they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Brest before their home draw, they have not experienced consecutive away defeats in Ligue 1 since August 2022. However, it is worth noting that Marseille was the team to inflict that second defeat on them last year.
In their previous encounters, Marseille has had the upper hand against Clermont, winning three out of the four head-to-head matches (W1). Clermont has failed to score a single goal in any of their three defeats against Marseille. Their only victory against Marseille came at the Orange Vélodrome, where they emerged as 2-0 winners in February 2022.
One key battle to watch out for is between Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Clermont’s teenage defender Cheick Oumar Konaté. Aubameyang has been in fine form, scoring in four of Marseille’s last five games in all competitions, including five goals in three home fixtures. On the other hand, Konaté has received the first yellow card of the game in each of Clermont’s previous two away fixtures, both within the first 20 minutes.
A notable statistic is that Marseille has received the joint-most red cards (3) of any Ligue 1 side this season, ahead of this round of games. This highlights the need for discipline as they continue their pursuit of European qualification.
In conclusion, Marseille’s recent resurgence in form has put them back in the race for European qualification in Ligue 1. Their strong defensive record and impressive goal-scoring performances from Aubameyang make them favorites against Clermont, who have struggled to find consistency in front of goal. As the two teams clash this weekend, Marseille will be determined to continue their winning streak and maintain their defensive solidity.