Looking to build upon a phenomenal opening-day victory, Marseille will host Reims at the Stade Velodrome on matchday two of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season.
The hosts secured a brilliant 5-1 win in their first game, while the visitors succumbed to a deserving 2-0 defeat after a poor first showing.
Match preview
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Marseille fell out of the top three for just the second time in five seasons last year, dropping to a disappointing eighth-placed finish and failing to qualify for European football for the first time since 2018-19.
The hosts failed to ever put together a run of positive momentum throughout the entire campaign, resulting in them amassing 50 points from 13 wins, 11 draws and 10 defeats.
Genaro Gattuso was dismissed from his managerial position in February, with replacement Jean-Louis Gasset retiring at the end of the season, and being replaced by Roberto De Zerbi for the new term.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion manager enjoyed a positive pre-season, winning three, drawing one and losing one of their five friendly fixtures, and that momentum carried into the opening game of the season.
Marseille faced the difficult task of travelling to the home stadium of Brest, who finished third last year, but The Olympians dominated the game and ran out 5-1 winners.
They will face another tricky game on Saturday, coming up against a Reims side that finished just three points behind Marseille in ninth last year.
Luka Elsner, who joined ahead of this season, endured a mixed pre-season in preparation for the new campaign, winning three, losing two and drawing two of their seven friendlies.
Reims followed that by starting the 2024-25 Ligue 1 with a dismal 2-0 defeat to Lille at home, taking just two shots to their opponents' 22 in an abysmal performance.
Elsner's side did receive a red card after just 15 minutes with the scores still at 0-0, and Elsner will be hoping his side can improve on Saturday with 11 men on the pitch.
Reims have struggled at the Stade Velodrome in recent seasons, losing in their last two trips by an aggregate score if 6-2, while the last time they were victorious at this ground was in 2019.
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Team News
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The hosts could be without Faris Moumbagna, who was forced off just eight minutes after coming on as a substitute for Marseille last time out, while Bilal Nadir, Ruben Blanco and Valentin Carboni are all also out with injuries.
Mason Greenwood hit the ground running as a Marseille player, scoring two goals on his competitive debut, while fellow debutant Elye Wahi also opened his account with a 69th-minute penalty.
As for the visitors, Amadou Kone will be out due to a suspension after the midfielder was sent off after just 15 minutes in their opening-day defeat to Lille.
They could also be without Amine Salama, Mohamed Daramy and Teddy Teuma, as all three are currently doubts due to injury concerns.
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Lirola, Balerdi, Brassier, Murillo; Hojbjerg, Merlin; Greenwood, Harit, Henrique; Wahi
Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Kone, Okumu, Agbadou, Akieme; Edoa, Fofana, Munetsi; Nakamura, Diakite, Ito
We say: Marseille 3-1 Reims
Marseille will be high on confidence after a dominant 5-1 win in their first match, and De Zerbi will be desperate for a win in his first home match for the club, suggesting the hosts will win this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
