Marseille Want to Get Off to a Winning Start? Strasbourg Just Happen to Be the Guests Who “Came to Crash the Party”

If every opening-round match of a new season had its own personality, Marseille vs. Strasbourg would be the kind where “the home team wants to pop the champagne, while the visitors are responsible for hiding the glasses.”
Marseille will host the match at the Stade Vélodrome, and this will also be the first Ligue 1 game since Génésio officially took charge of the team. For a new manager, earning three points in the opener is naturally more important than playing an attractive match without picking up any points. Génésio has extensive Ligue 1 coaching experience and is expected to lead Marseille back into contention for European football this season.
Marseille finished fifth last season, and their attacking efficiency at home was quite good, scoring in all but one of their home matches throughout the campaign. That kind of home firepower will clearly put some “weekend overtime” pressure on Strasbourg’s defense.
But Strasbourg just happen to be unafraid of playing away.
They have remained unbeaten in their last four visits to Marseille; in the opening round last season, they even beat Metz away from home to get off to a winning start. The team showed a certain ability to earn points away from home last season, and many of their defeats were narrow one-goal losses.
So I believe the biggest question in this match is not whether Marseille have the advantage, but whether they can turn that advantage into goals.
If Paixão continues his preseason form, Marseille’s attack will be extremely dangerous; but if the hosts fail to score for too long, Strasbourg could grow increasingly confident as the match progresses.
My final prediction: Marseille 2-1 Strasbourg.
If I were to go for a slightly bolder scenario, I would hedge against a 1-1 draw.
Because the most recent meeting between the two sides ended 2-2, and draws have not been uncommon in their historical encounters.
In short: I favor Marseille to take three points, but I do not expect them to do so comfortably.
Génésio’s first match of the new season will most likely be the kind of game where “winning is worth celebrating, and even an unattractive win is acceptable.”#五大联赛赛前预测官