Angers vs Marseille prediction, H2H and probable lineups - January 17, 2026
One of the fixtures of Ligue 1’s 19th round will take place this Saturday at the Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers, where the hosts will welcome Marseille. Here’s my take on this intriguing clash.
Match preview
Angers have stumbled into 2026, suffering two consecutive defeats. First, they fell 1-2 to Le Havre in Ligue 1, and then crashed out of the Coupe de France, losing to Toulouse. That cup tie ended 1-1 in regular time, but it was the "Violets" who prevailed in the penalty shootout. This is in stark contrast to the end of last year, when Alexandre Dujeux’s side won five out of six matches.
Currently, Angers are sitting mid-table. Breaking into the European places will be a tough ask, but relegation doesn’t seem to be a real threat either. That means the players can perform with relatively little pressure and focus on their game. One player worth highlighting is the team’s top Ligue 1 scorer, striker Sidiki Cherif. Rumor has it he’s on the verge of a Premier League move, specifically to Crystal Palace, and if he’s unavailable for this match, it could be a major blow for the club. It’ll be interesting to see how Angers adapt their attacking approach if they’re missing their main man up front.
Marseille, on the other hand, head into this game fresh from one of the most emphatic victories in their history. Roberto De Zerbi’s men demolished amateur side Bayeux 9-0 in the Coupe de France, with English winger Mason Greenwood stealing the show by netting a hat-trick and providing two assists. Greenwood has been sensational this season, racking up 19 goals and 6 assists for Marseille across all competitions.
In Ligue 1, Marseille sit third, trailing surprise leaders Lens by eight points, making the title race a tall order this season. There’s also a notable absentee: central defender Nayef Aguerd is away with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Moroccans have reached the final, where they’ll face Senegal. Aguerd’s absence could pose a real problem for Marseille, especially given their patchy form without him in recent matches.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Three of the last five matches featured fewer than three goals.
- Three of Marseille’s last four games saw more than two goals scored.
- Marseille hold a clear edge in the last ten head-to-head meetings: five wins, with Angers taking just one and four draws.
- The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Probable lineups
- Angers: Zinga - Arcus, Camara, Lefort, Hanin - Belkebla, Courcoul, Mouton - Belkhdim, Sbai, Peter
- Marseille: Rulli - Pavard, Balerdi, Medina - Weah, Vermeeren, Højbjerg, Emerson - Greenwood, Paixāo, Gouiri
Prediction
It’s hard to be fully confident in a Marseille victory, as Angers often put up a real fight and their head-to-head encounters tend to end in draws. Don’t expect a goal fest either: Angers are solid at the back, and Marseille’s defense has been consistently strong. The best bet here looks to be under 3 goals.
