Lyon vs Marseille Prediction 31.08.2025 | Ligue 1

Despite the uncertainty surrounding their status at the start of the season, with the club still awaiting confirmation on whether they would compete in Ligue 1 or face relegation due to debts – until a successful appeal granted them reprieve – Lyon managed to kick off the 2025/26 campaign in dreamlike fashion.

After Georges Mikautadze’s solitary first-half strike proved enough to see off a stubborn RC Lens on opening day, Les Gones stepped up their attacking intensity to crush Metz with three unanswered goals, propelling them to the top of the table.

Everything seems to be going according to plan for Paulo Fonseca's side, with their defence shining brightly by keeping clean sheets in their first two top-flight outings, but the looming clash against Marseille promises to reveal the genuine strength and potential of OL this season.

The first “Choc des Olympiques” of the season will go on without Orel Mangala and Ernest Nuamah, as both continue their long recoveries from serious ligament injuries.

After ending the previous campaign just shy of PSG, Marseille make their long-awaited comeback to the Champions League following a three-year hiatus, tasked with stepping up their game and maintaining a higher standard of consistency to match the continent’s top teams.

Ligue 1 campaign for 2025-26 got off to a bitter start as they suffered a stoppage-time 1-0 defeat against a ten-man Rennes, but Roberto De Zerbi’s side bounced back in style on matchday two, routing newcomers Paris FC 5-2 with a commanding display.

Even though Les Olympiens stumbled in their first away test of the new season, they will be eager to put it behind them quickly, having enjoyed an impressive away record last term, finishing as the second-best travelers with 10 W-1 D-6 L—only PSG fared better.

Amine Harit and Igor Paixao won’t feature for OM in the Olympic derby, but all other players are ready, as De Zerbi could stick with the side that ruthlessly overpowered Paris FC last match.