Marseille will be aiming to build on their much-needed victory over Montpellier when they travel to the Stade Gaston Gerard to take on relegation-threatened Dijon on Saturday.
The visitors remained in the top five following their 3-1 win in midweek, whereas Dijon were held to a goalless draw by fellow strugglers Reims in their first fixture of 2021.
Match preview
© Reuters
Dijon's trip to Reims was not expected to be a thrilling encounter between two sides desperate to avoid any more defeats, and the game lived up to its low expectations with no goals on the night.
However, that point could yet prove vital in Dijon's bid to avoid the drop as they climbed out of the automatic relegation places after Lorient were thrashed by Monaco.
As things stand, David Linares's men currently occupy the relegation playoff spot heading into the midway point of the season, and only three points separate Les Hiboux from safety following a marked improvement since Linares took the reins.
Dijon have only tasted defeat in two of their last seven league outings, but a mere 12 goals scored is still the fewest in the league, and two wins from 18 matches is also the worst record in the 2020-21 campaign.
Moreover, those two victories against Nimes and Nice have both come on the road, and Dijon are the only team in Ligue 1 yet to register a victory on home soil heading into gameweek 19.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, Marseille kept pace with the title-chasing pack after leaving it late to beat fellow European hopefuls Montpellier 3-1 at the Orange Velodrome - ending a three-game winless streak in doing so.
Nemanja Radonjic, Dimitri Payet and Valere Germain struck for Andre Villas-Boas's men as they returned to winning ways on Wednesday, and Marseille now find themselves eight points off top spot with two games in hand on the four teams above them.
Paris Saint-Germain, Lille and Rennes all failed to win in their first fixtures of 2021, and with the latter facing off against current leaders Lyon this weekend, Marseille can ill-afford to slip up at Dijon if they are to have any chance of breaking into the top four.
Should Les Olympiens prevail at the Stade Gaston Gerard this weekend, they will end a three-game losing streak away from home in all competitions, with Manchester City, Rennes and Angers all leaving Marseille to make miserable trips back home over the past month.
Dijon managed to hold Marseille to a goalless stalemate in this fixture last season, but the visitors had taken the spoils in the last four meetings before that and are yet to lose at the home of Les Hiboux.
Dijon Ligue 1 form: DDLLWD
Marseille Ligue 1 form: WWLDLW
Marseille form (all competitions): LWLDLW
Team News
© Reuters
Dijon were able to welcome several players back from the treatment room for their clash with Reims, and Yassine Benzia may be the next to return as he recovers from a broken hand.
However, Roger Assale is expected to remain out for another couple of weeks, while Anibal Chala is still sidelined with a groin problem.
Mounir Chouiar was one of those to return to the fold against Reims and he should make the starting lineup here after coming on as a substitute in midweek.
Marseille can afford to rejig their midfield with Valentin Rongier back from suspension, and the 26-year-old could demote Pape Gueye to the bench for this one.
Jordan Amavi and Morgan Sanson are not expected to recover in time for Saturday's game, while Radonjic has given Villas-Boas food for thought after opening the scoring in a rare start on Wednesday.
Payet may therefore be restricted to an appearance from the bench despite also scoring on the night, while Germain has staked his claim for a starting role over Dario Benedetto.
Dijon possible starting lineup:
Racioppi; Boey, Manga, Coulibaly, Muzinga; Ndong, Cheikh; Ebimbe, Celina, Chouiar; Konate
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Sakai, Gonzalez, Caleta-Car, Nagatomo; Kamara, Rongier, Cuisance; Thauvin, Germain, Radonjic
We say: Dijon 0-2 Marseille
Linares has certainly helped steady the ship since taking over as Dijon manager, but the 45-year-old has not been able to turn Les Hiboux' home fortunes around and is unlikely to do so here. Villas-Boas's two inspired substitutions helped Marseille get over the line against Montpellier, and the confidence ought to be sky high in the Olympiens camp, so we can only see a win for the visitors here.
