Marseille – Reims : Preview & Prediction
Jorge Sampaoli brought Champions League nights back to Marseille last season, after the team finished in the top two in the standings in a full Ligue 1 season for the first time since 2012/13. Despite the good result, the Argentine coach opted to resign his contract because he felt he did not have “enough money” to sign players, and has since been replaced by Igor Tudor.
A quiet summer in terms of transfers, combined with tensions between some players and the new coach, have already put Tudor under the spotlight even before the season starts. Not only that, but it also bodes ill that the last time the “Olympians” faced Reims at the Stade Vélodrome on an opening day of Ligue 1 (2019/20), they lost 2-0.
This crisis at Marseille is music to the ears of Reims, who will try to improve on the 12th position obtained last season. However, problems in the final third of the pitch could be present, as their top scorer last season, Hugo Ekitike (ten goals in Ligue 1) was transferred to PSG, and a recent injury to their biggest offensive signing of the summer, Junya Ito, does not help.
Oscar Garcia’s side will be relying on their successful experience of starting their Ligue 1 campaigns away from home, as this is something that has happened in all four seasons since their last promotion (G2, E2). This meeting with Marseille will perhaps be a golden opportunity to extend that streak, considering they have lost just one of their last nine meetings between them in the top flight played at this venue (G2, P6).
Players to watch: Marseille could rely on Gerson for a good start, as he has opened the scoring in five of the last seven Ligue 1 matches in which he has scored, including the previous meeting between these sides. Meanwhile, Reims will be hoping Marshall Munetsi can find the net, having won four of his last five Ligue 1 games in which he has scored (E1).
Key stat: Marseille have lost just one match in Ligue 1 under referee Jérôme Brisard, but that was the 2-0 home loss to Reims mentioned above.
Marseille – Reims : Betting Tips
Marseille – Win Odds: 1.55
