Lille vs Marseille Odds & Prediction – Ligue 1 Matchday 9

• It is Lille vs Marseille in Round 9 of the Ligue 1 schedule on Sunday, October 3 at 11:00 am EST
• Marseille’s flying start to the season has hit a blip while Lille is on a slow upturn in fortunes
• We preview the game, look at the odds, and offer some picks below

Ligue 1’s reigning champion Lille entertains third-placed Marseille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroyon Sunday, October 3 at 11:00 am EST in Round 9 of Ligue 1. Lille is looking to continue its move up the table after a slow start to the campaign, while the visitors need a win to bolster their flying start after suffering back-to-back defeats.

We list the odds, preview Lille vs Marseille, and offer below the best picks for this Ligue 1 clash.

Lille vs Marseille Odds

Odds as of October 2 at DraftKings

Lille’s Terrible Start

Lille’s title defense didn’t get off to a good start and they already find themselves 13 points adrift of the current leaders PSG. Three defeats and two draws in their opening six games was a disastrous way to open the campaign and led to questions being asked of new coach Jocelyn Gourvennec, who replaced Christophe Galtier in the summer.

Still all to play for 😤#LOSC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/EFISboBdBH

— LOSC (@LOSC_EN) September 30, 2021

When Gourvennec was announced as Lille’s new coach, eyebrows were raised among their fanbase and those opening six games did little to ally their fears, but there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel with back-to-back wins in their last two games. The turnaround in fortunes started with a  solid 2-1 victory at home to Reims in round 7 and was followed a week later with another 2-1 victory in Strasbourg.

Lille Now in Top Half of Ligue 1

Those two wins have moved Les Dogues up to the top half of the Ligue 1 table and, while the title already looks beyond them with PSG still with ar 100 percent win record, they have brought themselves back into contention in the race for the European places.

Defeat in Salzburg.#LOSC | #SALLOSC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/dDPZwiCORt

— LOSC (@LOSC_EN) September 29, 2021

A midweek loss at the hands of Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League was a setback for Lille – and left them bottom of Group G after two games – but they will try to put that disappointment behind them this weekend as they try to head into the international break off the back of three consecutive Ligue 1 wins.

Lille vs Marseille Head-to-Head Stats

Marseille Off To a Flyer

Marseille’s flying start to the Ligue 1 campaign saw them challenging PSG for top spot after four games but they have had a blip and are now winless in two. They are currently 10 points adrift of the league leaders, albeit they do have a game in hand, but like Lille, they will be hoping to sign off for the international break on a high note.

𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 Olympiens 💙
Our heartbeat. Thank you for the support at the @orangevelodrome and around the world yesterday pic.twitter.com/hWNYjnd5Pf

— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) October 1, 2021

Last weekend’s home defeat by Lens was a particularly painful one for Jorge Sampaoli’s men. After going 2-0 down inside the opening 27 minutes, a Dimitri Payet double saw them pull level before halftime before it was all undone by a 71st-minute winner from Lens’ Wesley Said. The win for Lens saw them leapfrog Marseille in the table and they, not Les Olympiens, are now PSG’s closest challengers.

Europa League Stalemate

That poor home result was followed by another on Thursday night when, with Galatasaray the visitors in a Europa League Group E clash, they played out a disappointing and lifeless 0-0 draw. Defensively though they are looking solid.

⏱️ 90+10' FULL-TIME | The two sides could not be separated in a heated encounter.

Back to Ligue 1 focus on Sunday against the champions, @LOSC_EN. #OMGAL | 0⃣ – 0⃣ | ⚪️🔵 | #UEL pic.twitter.com/fwHUcRCSjX

— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) September 30, 2021

The momentum Marseille had built up in those opening few games appears to have dissipated and this promises to be a tough afternoon for them, although they will look to that goals-against column for inspiration, where they have conceded just eight compared to Lille’s 14. In this same fixture last season, Lille won 2-0, while the game in Marseille was a 1-1 draw.

Lille vs Marseille Prediction

A win here would take Lille to within just a point of Marseille and they will be looking to use the confidence from back-to-back league wins to propel them to make it three on the spin. Much will depend on the start they make to the game, and if they fall behind the Lille crowd’s uncertainty around the credentials of Gourvennec could spill over and make for a febrile atmosphere inside the Stade Pierre-Mauroyon.

And it’s for this reason I see value in the +205 on offer for the home win, with Payet and co perhaps looking forward to also being free of the pressure of playing in front of an expectant Stade Vélodrome.

Pick: Marseille to win (+205) / Payet to score (+240)