The closing game of the French Ligue 1 Round 13 is set for Sunday, November 19th, 2017, when Bordeaux hosts Marseille at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, and the excitement is guaranteed when these two rivals go on each other.
In this preview, we’ll take a close look at this derby clash, so don’t waste your time, and check out our fresh tips and betting predictions, like always here on GetMoreSports.
BORDEAUX vs. MARSEILLE
3-Way: 1: Bordeaux +148; X: +260 Draw; 2: Marseille +221 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Bordeaux -133; Marseille +127
Total +2.5: Over -115; Under +120
BORDEAUX
Bordeaux had a great start of the French Ligue 1 campaign, and after the first seven games, they were undefeated, laying at the third spot of the table, so the fans thought this could be their year. However, in the last five rounds their beloved club earned just one point, and now it seems like another mid-table season for six-time French champions. They lost three games in a row without scoring a goal, two times on the road against Rennes and Amiens, and once in front of the home fans against heavyweight Monaco, so it is time for awakening at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, even though their next rival is Marseille, who’s in the good form recently.
In the previous round of the French Ligue 1, Bordeaux traveled to Rennes where we expected to see an open game with some goals on both sides, but it was a tough battle in the midfield, and the match was decided with the one goal in the first half. It was a nightmare start for The Girondins when the 34-year old experienced defender Jeremy Toulalan scored an own goal in the 12th minute of the game. Rennes’ midfielder Wahbi Khazri took the cross from the free kick, and Jeremy Toulalan accidentally hit the ball with his head to put it behind his goalkeeper.
The Girondins had a great opportunity to level the match in the first half. The right winger Malcom took a perfect cross to find the striker Alexandre Mendy all alone just outside of the six-yard box, but Mendy couldn’t hit the ball properly, and his shot went wide of the right post. At the start of the second half, Alexandre Mendy had another good chance to score the equalizing goal. This time he tried to cheap it over the keeper, but his shot went over the crossbar, too. Until the end of the match, Mendy tried once more to earn the draw for his team. He was in a great position at the edge of the box, but his right-foot shot went wide again. The Girondins took just six shots for 90 minutes, and none of them went on target. On the other side, their defense was excellent, besides Toulalan’s unlucky header which led to an own goal.
After the first twelve rounds of the French Ligue 1 Bordeaux is in the ninth spot with 16 points, a 16:18 goal difference and a 4-4-4 record. At home, they recorded three wins, one draw, and one defeat with an 8:5 goal difference, while on the road The Girondins earned six points with an 8:13 goal difference and a 1-3-3 record. The 20-year old Brazilian right winger Malcom is certainly a future star in the making, and he added five goals and four assists to his name in 12 appearances this season. The 28-year old midfielder Younousse Sankhare bagged four goals in 12 apps, while Alexandre Mendy, who joined the club from Guingamp this summer, scored two goals in 11 appearances so far. The 21-year old left winger Francois Kamano is another key player in Bordeaux squad with two goals and four dishes in 12 games this season.
The manager Jocelyn Gourvennec is certainly discontented with his team’s play, especially in the final third. For the next game against Marseille, he can count on all players, besides the 23-year old striker Gaetan Laborde, who’s sidelined with a foot injury.
MARSEILLE
Marseille is having a quite turbulent season with some serious fans’ riots while the team’s results are looking pretty good. The incident with the 36-year old former French international Patrice Evra and his left-foot kick in the fan’s head is already a history, and Marseille’s players can look to the future challenges without Evra in the squad. They are in a solid form recently, the last time they’ve lost a match in the Ligue was in early September, and it seems like this year they will fight for the UEFA Champions League spot.
In the previous round of the French Ligue 1, Marseille hammered Caen at home, 5:0, to record a second win in a row, and the third victory of the season in front of the home fans. The Olympians were a far better team throughout the whole game, deservedly winning all three points at the end. They were attacking from the start of the clash, missing some great opportunities in the first half, while Caen’s goalkeeper was sparkling between the sticks. However, The Olympians have finally broken the deadlock in the 43rd minute when Luiz Gustavo’s shot passed through legs of two Caen’s defenders to finish in the bottom right corner.
It was a huge relief for Marseille’s players, who stormed out in the second half, and in the 47th minute, Florian Thauvin doubled the lead after a great team play. Just five minutes later Morgan Sanson made it 3:0 with a beautiful curling left-foot shot. The fourth goal came in the 76th minute of the game when the Greek striker Konstantinos Mitroglou found the net with a header after Thauvin’s pinpoint cross from the right wing. In the 81st minute Florian Thauvin took the rebound to make it 5:0, and with a brace and an assist, he was arguably the man of the match.
After the first twelve rounds of the French Ligue 1, Marseille is laying at the fourth place of the table with 24 points, a 26:17 goal difference and a form of WWDDW. At home, The Olympians recorded three wins, two draws and one loss with a 14:6 goal difference, while on the road they earned 13 points with a 4-1-1 record and a 12:11 goal difference. Florian Thauvin and the 24-year old striker Clinton N’Jie are the team’s leading scorers with five goals apiece, while Morgan Sanson and the winger Lucas Ocampos bagged four goals each thus far. Florian Thauvin is a top assistant with five dishes in 12 Ligue 1 appearances, while Dimitri Payet made three assists in seven games this season.
The manager Rudi Garcia doesn’t have any injury worries, so he can field his best eleven on Sunday evening, as all players are healthy and ready to go.
BORDEAUX vs. MARSEILLE – Match Prediction
This should be a true spectacle at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, and I expect to see an open game with some goals on both sides, even two of the last three matches between these rivals ended in a goalless draw. The Girondins didn’t score for three games in a row, and I expect to see them finding the net in this one, as they are playing at home. On the other side, Marseille bagged 12 goals on the road thus far, so I hope they will score another one on Sunday.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (-149)
