Lens face Marseille test after historic European collapse

RC Lens will attempt to recover from their record 9-1 Champions League defeat by Como when they host Olympique de Marseille at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday.

Lens are ninth in Ligue 1 after nine matches, following a 1-0 defeat by Lille last weekend. Marseille sit sixth, two points ahead, having beaten Toulouse 2-0.

The result in Italy on Wednesday made Lens the first team in Champions League history to concede nine goals in a match. Yannick Cahuzac’s side are now at risk of suffering three successive defeats in all competitions for the first time this season.

Their European campaign has brought three consecutive losses, with an aggregate score of 14-1. However, Lens have won three of their past four Ligue 1 matches and have been far more effective at home domestically, scoring nine of their 16 league goals at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

They have also won three of their past four home league meetings with Marseille, including a 2-1 victory in this fixture last season. Ruben Aguilar, Lens’ only scorer against Como, is expected to feature.

Marseille arrive in considerably better form. Bruno Genesio’s team have won four of their past five matches in all competitions, including their first Europa League victory of the season away to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday.

That 1-0 success was Marseille’s first away win in the competition since a 2-0 victory at AEK Athens in 2023. The result also extended their run to three wins in their past four away games in all competitions.

The visitors can record three consecutive clean sheets for the first time in 2026 and keep two successive shutouts in Ligue 1 for the first time since March. Marseille rank second in the league for both goals per game, with 2.2, and average possession, at 55.7%.

They are three points behind Lille, currently second, and have scored seven goals in their past two Ligue 1 away matches. That is two more than they managed in their previous 10 domestic games outside Stade Velodrome.

Lens remain without Ismaelo Ganiou, who is recovering from knee surgery, while Abdallah Sima has a leg problem, Jhoanner Chavez is troubled by a thigh injury and Maik Nawrocki continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament rupture. Odsonne Edouard is doubtful with an adductor problem. Florian Thauvin has contributed to three goals in his past two Ligue 1 appearances at home.

Marseille are monitoring Derek Cornelius, who has a hip problem, Keyliane Abdallah after a knock and Emerson Palmieri because of a knee issue. Amine Gouiri has scored in each of his past two appearances for the club, including the winner against Bayer Leverkusen, after also scoring alongside Amine Harit against Toulouse.

The forecast is for a controlled Marseille victory, with a 0-2 scoreline recommended at odds of 14.50. Marseille to win is priced at 2.55, fewer than 3.5 goals at 1.55 and Gouiri to score at 2.50.