Marseille vs Lokomotiv Moscow Predictions

• Marseille cannot qualify but must avoid defeat to hold the Europa Conference League place while Lokomotiv must win to take it.
• Marseille have won four and lost two of their previous home games against Russian opposition.
• Lokomotiv Moscow have lost their last four games.
• Midfielder Gerson is in great form and has scored in back-to-back games for Marseille.

Lokomotiv have hit the buffers

Lokomotiv Moscow need to win At the Stade Velodrome to take the Europa Conference League slot from Marseille on Thursday, but their recent form offers no encouragement for that.

Loko have lost four straight games since the resumption after the last international break and conceded nine goals. Three of those defeats came at the RZD Arena, including the 3-0 reverse to Lazio in matchday five that confirmed their elimination from the Europa League.

Defensively they have major issues and no clean sheets in their last 12 games suggests Marseille won’t have a problem finding the net on Thursday – and therein lies a major problem.

Third in Ligue 1, two points back of second-placed Rennes but with a game in hand, OM are on course to finish higher than last season. Jorge Sampaoli has tightened up the defence and instilled a belief in the team that one goal will be enough to win games.

Go for Gerson to get a goal

Les Olympiens have blanked ten of their last 18 opponents and won five of those games 1-0 or 2-0, which must make them a good bet to win this contest to nil at an odds against price. Gerson represents another value pick in anytime goalscorer betting as the Brazilian midfielder is in great form right now and has the confidence from back-to-back goals in Ligue 1 contests.

The 2-0 correct score forecast reflects the Muscovites’ defensive frailties at the moment in conceding at exactly two goals per game in their November matches.