Marseille vs Paris FC: Ligue 1 Prediction (23.08.2025)

On Saturday, August 23, at 17:00 CEST, in the second round of the French Ligue 1, Marseille will face Paris FC. Bookmakers clearly favor the hosts, as the newly promoted side will be meeting such a strong opponent for the first time. Let’s look at the teams’ current form at the start of the season and provide a prediction for this match.

Marseille

The Provençals finished last season strongly, going on a five-match unbeaten streak with only one draw. That run allowed them to secure second place in the league, though competing for the title was never really in question—PSG finished 19 points ahead. Too many points were lost in unnecessary situations.

After a solid preseason (3 wins and 3 draws), expectations were high for a strong start. However, Olympique Marseille dropped points right away in the first round. Roberto De Zerbi’s team, entering as favorites, lost 0–1 to Rennes. To make matters worse, Marseille played with a man advantage for over an hour but still failed to score despite their numerical superiority.

Paris FC

The French capital is now represented by two clubs in Ligue 1, with their stadiums standing just across the road from each other. Paris FC impressed in Ligue 2 last season, finishing second and earning a deserved promotion to the top flight. Ahead of the new campaign, the club made some notable signings: Sangui and De Smet from Reims, Simon from Nantes, Guebbels from St. Gallen, and most importantly, Otávio from Porto. However, Otávio is not yet available due to fitness issues.

In the first round, Paris FC started boldly, pressing Angers throughout the game. They controlled 68% of possession away from home. Still, an early ninth-minute goal turned out to be the only one of the match, despite Angers playing with 10 men from the 57th minute. The newcomers clearly need to improve their finishing.

Head-to-head statistics

There are no previous head-to-head encounters between the teams. This will be their first meeting, adding intrigue to the fixture.

Prediction

For Marseille vs Paris FC, the prediction favors the hosts. Marseille will be eager to bounce back after their first-round defeat and will look to redeem themselves in front of their fans. De Zerbi’s side is traditionally strong in attack, and the newly promoted visitors may struggle to withstand the pressure. The suggested bet is Marseille to win with a –1 handicap at odds of 1.58.