Olympique Marseille vs. OGC Nice: Race to Champions League Qualification Heats Up

March 19, 2022

Benson Chikezie, Senior Author

Second in the league, third in the league, level on points, with a Champions League spot for the taking, the backstory behind this weekend’s clash between Marseille and Nice is breathtaking. The match will kickoff at 01:15 IST on the 21st of March, and the victor will go three points clear of the loser— a massive 3 points in the race for 2nd place.

The importance of this fixture to both sides is given even more weight as Rennes is just 1 point behind Marseille and Nice. Strasbourg is in 5th place, 3 points behind Marseille and Nice, and even Lille, who are 7 points off, are still a threat. Both teams are not in great form compared to their rivals, and this is why this match is a crucial fixture. Marseille have a Europa Conference League playoffs game against Basel, after which they prepare to welcome Nice for their crunch clash. Who will come out on top?

Teams Status

Here is the latest form and team news for Marseille and Nice:

Olympique Marseille Form and Team News

With 6 wins, 3 losses, and 1 loss in their last 10 matches in all competitions, Marseille are in good form going into this match. They have a slender 2-1 advantage over Basel, who they face in midweek before Nice during the weekend. They sit 2nd in the league, with 50 points from 28 games, recording 14 wins, 8 draws, and 6 losses.

Marseille have performed rather poorly at home this season, winning 5, drawing 5, and losing 4 of their 14 home matches. They have scored 43 goals and conceded 26. Nine of those goals have come from star forward Dimitri Payet, who has also contributed 9 assists.

For their team news, Marseille will be without the influential Payet, who is out with a muscle injury.

OGC Nice Form and Team News

OGC Nice have recovered from their loss to Lyon in February, winning 3 and drawing 2 of their last 5 matches in all competitions. They are level on points with Marseille, having recorded 15 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses in 28 matches this season.

Nice have produced some high profile wins this season, notably defeating PSG a few weeks ago, and will hope to repeat the feat away at Marseille. They have scored fewer goals than their rivals, however, with 38 goals scored and 21 conceded. Amine Gouiri, with 10 goals and 7 assists, has been their standout performer this season.

For injuries, suspensions, and absences, Nice have all players in their Ligue 1 squad available for selection ahead of their crunch clash with Marseille.

What Do the Sportsbooks Say?

Olympique Marseille	Draw	OGC Nice
2.202	3.52	3.58
2.202	3.52	3.58
2.16	3.35	3.45

Olympique Marseille are favored to win this fixture, according to the sportsbook on Melbet. The odds for a Marseille victory stand at 2.202, a draw is at 3.52, and a win for Nice is placed at 3.58 odds. On the sportsbook at Sportsbet.io, the odds for the three outcomes are as follows: 2.16, 3.35, and 3.45, respectively.

Although Marseille have more wins away from home than at home, they are still favorites to win on the Paripesa sportsbook at 2.202 odds. The odds for a draw and a visitors’ win are at 3.52 and 3.58, respectively.

Tipster’s Angle

Marseille have been superior to Nice based on their head-to-head record. In their last 10 meetings, Olympique Marseille have won 7, with Nice winning 2, and one match ending in a draw. However, Nice’s 2 wins and the draw have come in the last 3 meetings between both sides, suggesting an end to Marseille’s dominance in this fixture.

Payet has been influential for the home team, and his absence will be felt. Nice will look to exploit every chance they get, so here are our tips for the match:

Tip: Nice To Win, Draw No Bet @ 2.40

OGC Nice have a remarkable away record, losing just once in their last 10 away games, winning 6 and drawing 3. They have a penchant for winning games against perceived bigger opposition, and an upset is on the cards.

Marseille are without Payet, who is their creative hub, and may be slightly weakened going forward. Considering their average form at home (5 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses), losing this fixture will not come as a surprise. Nice to win, draw no bet is available on the Parimatch sportsbook at 2.40 odds.

Tip: Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.28

Marseille vs. Nice is usually a high-scoring fixture, and 8 of the last 10 encounters have produced at least 2 goals. We expect another multi-goal result in this tie. Over 1.5 goals is available on the Sportsbet.io sportsbook at 1.28 odds.

Conclusion

The battle for second place in Ligue 1 is on, and Marseille, Nice, Rennes, and Strasbourg are the major players. Marseille will host Nice in a crucial meeting that could be decisive going forward as we enter into the business end of the Ligue 1.

Benson Chikezie

15:26, 19 Mar 2022

Senior Author

Benson Chikezie

Senior Author

15:26, 19 Mar 2022

Benson Chikezie is a Nigerian-based writer with many years of experience in the sports betting industry. He is a digital marketer by profession. Benson has written many sports related contents for various websites.