Ligue 1 south coast rivals Monaco and L’OM collide in crunch clash

Marseille are still clinging onto first place in Ligue 1 after 17 games, and will most likely have to beat cash-rich club Monaco away in order to stay ahead of PSG, who face Guingamp earlier in the day.

But the principality side are in a good run of form, following a slow start to the season, and will be especially in high confidence after recently topping their Champions League group.

Monaco have won four of their last five games in all competitions, and go into this encounter as slight 8/5 favourites with Coral for victory over L’OM, who have failed to claim all three points in any of their last three league fixtures.

Marseille boss Marcelo Bielsa, though, will be hoping his side can claim their 13th win from their last 16 league matches, and they are priced at 9/5 to triumph at the Stade Louis II stadium. A draw is 21/10.

Despite L’OM being seven places and 12 points ahead of Monaco this season so far, they lost both battles against them last term in Ligue 1. The Red and Whites got two goals in each game, and can be backed at an enticing 7/4 to score that many or more again.

Marseille-born Monaco striker Valere Germain netted last time out in this fixture, and the 24-year-old is a 13/5 shout to strike again anytime, or 7/1 to be on target first.

Manager Leonardo Jardim, though, will be unable to rely on former Manchester United frontman Dimitar Berbatov, and impressive youngsters Layvin Kurzawa and Geoffrey Kondogbia, who are all injured.

Bielsa will be hoping his own in-form French forward, Andre-Pierre Gignac, can continue his run of 12 goals from 17 Ligue 1 games, with the international a terrific 19/10 chance in the anytime market. He is 7/1 for two or more.

Gignac is likely to have Andre Ayew and Dimitri Payet, who were oo target last time out, in support, with the duo 13/5 and 14/5 respectively to net anytime.