- Olympique Marseille have won three of the last five Ligue 1 H2H clashes (D1, L1).
- Nantes have won just two of their 15 home games in Ligue 1 this season (D3, L10).
- Nantes have failed to win any of their last five Ligue 1 matches (D3, L2).
Two very different teams, two very different managers
Sixth-placed Olympique Marseille hold 53 points from 31 games and are currently occupying sixth spot in the Ligue 1 table, while 17th-placed FC Nantes have just 20 points from the same number of games. The stakes couldn’t be much higher as survival is at stake for Les Canaris, while stability is needed for L’OM.
Marseille boss Habib Beye has overseen a massive change in his side’s style of play since taking over in February. He has his team far more organised and pragmatic and less keen to press and take risks while still looking to dominate possession. Instead, they look to control the ball in a patient manner, create overloads and pull opposition players out of position, before creating space to exploit.
Vahid Halilhodzic is the opposite sort of manager, but his pragmatic, conservative tactics have also made a huge difference since he took over at Nantes in March. He has made Nantes a very narrow and low team and has the Canaries sitting deep in a mid-block. Their philosophy is to frustrate the opponents and strike at them on the break. The FC Nantes vs Olympique Marseille prediction will certainly depend on how these contrasting managerial styles play out during the match.
Marseille can exploit Nantes’ flaws
This game is set to be an intriguing tactical clash of two very distinct teams, but our FC Nantes vs Olympique Marseille prediction is that Marseille will win because they are the better side in the league, have the better attacking players and Nantes simply do not have a strong record at home this season.
Les Canaris did beat Marseille 2-0 in the reverse game three months ago, but they haven't won their last two home games in this fixture and, according to this FC Nantes vs Olympique Marseille prediction, we’re expecting the visitors to come away with the win on Saturday. The 1.7 odds for an away win look a little tight, but it’s not an awful bet given the circumstances.
Looking for more insight? Check out the FC Nantes vs Olympique Marseille preview to get a deeper understanding of how the teams match up.
Greenwood, Aubameyang, Sarr and Mollet can fire OM to victory
Mason Greenwood, with 15 goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances, is currently the most dangerous striker in Ligue 1 and his ability to finish chances off in the box can turn a game on its head. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang adds experience and goal-scoring prowess up top, while Ismaïla Sarr can stretch games with his pace and directness from wide areas.
Nantes have a low goals scored tally and Florent Mollet, who will be key to their strategy, is their creative outlet and chief set-piece taker. Matthis Abline is their top scorer this term with just five goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances, but he can provide the occasional spark in transition, so we can see both teams scoring here.
An away victory seems likely as Marseille are the superior team, but Nantes do have the counter-attacking game to trouble them, so we’re taking both teams to score at 1.63 as our main bet. Over 2.5 goals at 1.69 is also a good price for a game between two sides with defensive flaws and the attacking quality to take advantage of them. For those looking for more, these FC Nantes vs Olympique Marseille betting tips could help inform your wagers.
