Marseille vs Lyon – News and Probable Lineups

Seeking to secure a victory in the top flight for the first time in five games, Marseille are set to host Lyon at Stade Velodrome on Sunday night for a Ligue 1 encounter.

Les Olympiens faced an away defeat against Brest in their last match, whereas Les Gones struggled on the road at Strasbourg.

Match overview

Following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Rennes in the Coupe de França on February 3, Marseille has experienced a three-match winless streak (D1 L2), which includes a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

In their last outing, Les Olympiens suffered another away loss, this time a 2-0 defeat at Stade Francis-Le Ble against Brest, culminating in a stellar brace from striker Ludovic Ajorque.

The last time they enjoyed success at Stade Velodrome in the league was against high-flying Lens on January 24, and as a result, Marseille has dropped to fourth place in the Ligue 1 table, trailing Sunday’s visitors by five points, who occupy third position.

Despite their recent poor form, Les Olympiens have been resilient at home, securing only one loss in their 11 Ligue 1 fixtures at Stade Velodrome during the 2025-26 season.

Lyon saw their remarkable 13-match winning streak across all competitions come to a disappointing end last Sunday when a goal from Corentin Tolisso was not enough to hold off a 3-1 defeat against Strasbourg at their home ground.

After their first defeat of 2026, which was also their first since December 7, Les Gones are determined to prevent consecutive losses for the first time since early November when they lost to Real Betis and PSG.

Thanks to their stellar performances during the mid-season, Lyon has surged up the Ligue 1 standings and currently occupy the final automatic Champions League qualifying spot, nine points behind league leaders Luis Enrique’s squad.

After leading the Europa League League Phase with seven wins from eight matches, Paulo Fonseca’s side also aims for continental success, with a clash scheduled against Celta Vigo from Espanha in the last 16.

Team News

Even after missing a penalty in the defeat against Brest, Mason Greenwood is expected to retain his position in the Marseille starting XI.

Midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, who was substituted at halftime last match, may be replaced by Ethan Nwaneri for Les Olympiens.

Malick Fofana of Lyon, who was sought after by several Premier League teams last summer, has not played since October due to an ankle injury.

Ernest Nuamah, who has also attracted interest from clubs such as Fulham and Liverpool in 2025, continues his recovery from a significant knee issue.

Afonso Moreira, who has been making a name for himself outside of Portugal, is unavailable for a few weeks due to a hamstring strain.

Marseille probable starting XI:

Rolls; Weah, Pavard, Aguerd, Emerson; Hojbjerg, Greenwood, Nwaneri, Timber, Paixao; Gouiri

Lyon probable starting XI:

Grief; Maitland-Niles, Matthew, Niakhate, Kluivert; Tessmann, Morton, Tolisso; Endrick, Abner, Nartey

Lyon may find it difficult at Stade Velodrome this weekend without the influence of top scorer Pavel Sulc.

Considering their recent challenges, Marseille remains a strong team at home and should be capable of securing at least a draw.