Lens vs OM: Zerbi’s Tactics & Crucial Draw Prediction
- The Ligue 1 title race is heating up as RC Lens currently leads the French top flight, one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, as of January 23, 2026.
- Marseille will host Lens on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the Stade Velodrome.
- Lens has demonstrated a particularly strong record away from home this season, winning six of their nine away matches and collecting 19 points in the process.
The Ligue 1 title race is heating up as RC Lens currently leads the French top flight, one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, as of . Lens’s strong form will be tested this weekend as they face Marseille, a team looking to solidify their own position in the Champions League qualification spots.
Marseille will host Lens on , at the Stade Velodrome. A victory for Marseille could propel them into the title discussion, while Lens aims to maintain their surprising lead. Recent head-to-head results favor Lens, having won five of the previous seven encounters between the two sides, including a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Lens has demonstrated a particularly strong record away from home this season, winning six of their nine away matches and collecting 19 points in the process. This contrasts with Marseille’s home form, where they have secured six wins from nine matches, with those games averaging 3.77 goals per game. This suggests a potential clash of styles, with Lens preferring tighter, more controlled matches and Marseille capable of high-scoring affairs.
Marseille recently suffered a 3-0 defeat against Liverpool in Champions League action, but rebounded with a 5-2 away victory over Angers. This inconsistency has been a characteristic of their season thus far. Lens, however, has shown no signs of slowing down and has been consistently avoiding conceding goals.
The match is anticipated to be a tactical battle. One observer noted a difference in coaching approach, stating that at Marseille, there isn’t a clear “paw” or guiding strategy from coach Roberto De Zerbi, while Lens appears to have a well-defined game plan. This observation suggests Marseille relies more on individual performances, whereas Lens functions more effectively as a cohesive unit.
Historically, RC Lens has had the upper hand in this fixture. Records show Lens victories over Marseille dating back to , , , and , as well as a 1-3 win on .
Despite Marseille’s home advantage, Lens managed to limit their attacking threat in the previous head-to-head clash, holding them to an expected goals (xG) of just 0.66. However, it is anticipated that Marseille will pose a greater attacking threat at home, motivated by the potential to close the gap on Lens and enter the title race.
A draw is considered a likely outcome, with some anticipating a tightly contested match. Predictions suggest a final score of Marseille 1-2 Lens. Pre-game odds indicate that Marseille are the favorites, despite Lens’s current league position and recent form.
The match promises to be a key fixture in Ligue 1, with significant implications for both the title race and the Champions League qualification spots. Lens’s ability to maintain their strong away form and disrupt Marseille’s attacking play will be crucial, while Marseille will need to capitalize on their home advantage and demonstrate a more cohesive team performance.