Predicted Marseille XI v Lyon: Dimitri Payet and Nuno Tavares absent

Tonight’s Olympico sees a spot in European competition at stake for both teams – Marseille will have to respond to Lens’ thrashing of Monaco to stay in touch for the Champions League, while Laurent Blanc is looking to guide Lyon to an unlikely 5th-place finish.

For the visitors, this season’s top scorer Alexis Sánchez – whose future at the club remains in the balance – is set to lead the line again, flanked by Cengiz Ünder and Ruslan Malinovskyi. The Ukrainian international, L’Équipe report, will get the nod over Mattéo Guendouzi as manager Igor Tudor looks to field a more attacking-minded lineup.

Among the notable absentees from the matchday squad through injury are Dimitri Payet and Nuno Tavares, the latter having picked up a knock in training, according to RMC Sport. French international Jonathan Clauss will be replacing the Arsenal loanee in the left wing-back role, with Manchester City loanee Issa Kaboré taking up the role on the opposite wing. Vitinha, who scored his first two goals for the club against Troyes last week, starts from the bench.

Marseille likely XI v Lyon:

Paul López – Issa Kaboré, Chancel Mbemba, Samuel Gigot, Sead Kolašinac, Jonathan Clauss – Valentin Rongier, Jordan Veretout – Cengiz Ünder, Ruslan Malinovskyi – Alexis Sánchez. (via L’Éq)

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin