Lyon vs Marseille

1. Core Players & Star Quality

Lyon 
• Core leadership weakened with Lacazette (15G, 2A), Cherki (8G, 11A) and Matić all departed. 
• New midfield stability sought through Tyler Morton and Jordan Veretout (1,556 mins, 2G). 
• Niakhaté, Mata, and Tagliafico remain defensive anchors with strong experience. 
• Attacking creativity rests on Almada (1G, 4A) and Malick Fofana (5G, 4A), but overall firepower is reduced. 

Marseille 
• Star attack spearheaded by Mason Greenwood (21G, 5A) and Amine Gouiri (10G, 3A). 
• Midfield drive from Rabiot (9G, 4A) and Højbjerg (2G, 4A) ensures control and balance. 
• Gerónimo Rulli (GK) provides elite reliability with 34 starts (3,060 mins). 
• Wide creativity boosted by Luis Henrique (7G, 7A), giving multiple attacking outlets. 

2. Departures Impact

Lyon 
• Losing Lacazette strips Lyon of their main scorer. 
• Cherki’s departure eliminates their top creator (11 assists). 
• Defensive depth reduced with Caleta-Car gone. 
• Clear downgrade in attacking star power compared to last season. 

Marseille 
• Departures like Luis Henrique, Quentin Merlin, and Valentin Rongier cut some squad depth. 
• Core attacking trio Greenwood–Rabiot–Gouiri remains intact, minimizing major impact. 
• Aubameyang (CF) arrival mitigates outgoing forward losses. 

3. New Player Integration

Lyon 
• Thiago Almada adds flair and chance creation (949 mins, 1G, 4A). 
• Morton + Veretout try to rebuild a midfield spine with passing control. 
• Georges Mikautadze (11G, 6A in 1,433 mins) becomes the new main striker. 
• Signings provide structure but lack proven Ligue 1 star power. 

Marseille 
• Greenwood + Gouiri + Wahi form a dynamic front line with finishing and versatility. 
• Angel Gomes and Ismaël Bennacer provide rotation and technical midfield play. 
• Ulisses Garcia strengthens LB options after Merlin’s departure. 
• Integration looks smooth - several already contribute goals/assists. 

4. Assists & Goals Output

Lyon 
• Lost their 30+ combined goals (Lacazette + Cherki). 
• Current main threats: Mikautadze (11G, 6A), Fofana (5G, 4A), Almada (1G, 4A). 
• Much weaker spread of contributions compared to Marseille. 

Marseille 
• Greenwood alone scored more (21G) than Lyon’s new core top scorers. 
• Gouiri (10G) and Luis Henrique (7G, 7A) give wide threats. 
• Midfield support: Rabiot (9G, 4A) keeps output balanced. 
• Distribution across 4–5 players makes Marseille unpredictable. 

5. Substitutes’ Experience & Depth

Lyon 
• Bench options: Benrahma (1G, 3A), Nuamah (3G, 1A, now injured), Caqueret for control. 
• Young depth exists but lacks reliable finishers. 
• Substitutes weaker in comparison to Marseille’s attacking bench. 

Marseille 
• Elye Wahi (3G, 1A) and Amine Harit (2G, 4A, injured) provide attacking energy off the bench. 
• Timothy Weah (5G, 2A) adds direct wing-back threat. 
• Experienced depth in midfield (Bennacer, Nadir) and defense (Brassier, Weah). 
• Far more impactful rotation options. 

6. Forecast & Expected Dynamics

1. Marseille Advantage: Superior attacking output (Greenwood, Gouiri, Rabiot) and deeper substitutes. 

1. Lyon Challenge: Must rely on Mikautadze and Almada for creativity. Loss of Lacazette and Cherki leaves them heavily weakened. 

1. Likely Flow: Marseille press high, force Lyon’s midfield into errors. Lyon likely sit compact and counter through Mikautadze/Fofana. 

7. Predicted Strength Balance

• Lyon: ★★☆☆☆ (Weakened) - transitional squad, lost star firepower, leaning on replacements.
  • Marseille: ★★★★☆ (Strong) - dangerous front line, multiple creators, solid depth despite minor injuries.

Projected Result: Marseille win - likely 2–0 or 3–1, with Greenwood and Gouiri too strong for Lyon’s reshuffled squad.