Marseille vs RC Lens Prediction 24.01.2026 | Ligue 1

Marseille can be anything but satisfied with their start to 2026, having found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreline in three of their first five competitive outings since the turn of the year. That shaky run was underlined by a painful 3-0 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in midweek Champions League action.

The Ligue 1 picture offers limited reassurance, yet Les Phoceens can take confidence from their most recent domestic performance, having roared to a devastating 5-2 away victory over Angers last weekend, a result that allowed them to cling on to the final automatic Champions League qualification spot.

Without question, Marseille’s greatest strength this season has been their attack, widely regarded as one of the most lethal in Europe and arguably the most potent in France. They have found the back of the net an outstanding 41 times in 18 league matches, a weapon they will look to unleash in Saturday’s crucial showdown as they aim to close the gap on leaders RC Lens and reignite the title race.

On the team news front, defender Nayef Aguerd, who returned to club duty following AFCON and was rested during the midweek clash with Real Madrid, is expected to come back into the fold. However, Angel Gomes will miss the encounter against RC Lens after accumulating five yellow cards.

Few could have imagined at the start of the season — not even the most devoted supporters — that RC Lens would be sitting atop the table at the halfway stage of the campaign. Yet here they are, boasting an impressive 43-point haul, with reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain breathing down their necks just one point behind.

This fairytale domestic run has been built on a remarkable surge of form, with Pierre Sage’s side putting together an extraordinary sequence of ten consecutive league victories. Their latest success came against second-bottom Auxerre, where a solitary second-half strike from Wesley Said proved enough to secure maximum points.

Les Sang et Or have also established themselves as the defensive benchmark of the division this season, conceding a league-low 13 goals. That resilience and structural discipline represent their greatest strengths, though both will be severely tested by Marseille’s free-scoring attacking unit.

Pierre Sage will be forced to cope without defensive duo Jonathan Gradit and Jhoanner Chavez, while Amadou Haïdara and Anthony Bermont have returned to training following injury setbacks, leaving their availability for the weekend encounter in doubt.