De Zerbi confirms Marseille captain Balerdi return for Nice clash

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi confirmed captain Leonardo Balerdi will be available for selection for their Ligue 1 fixture against Nice on Friday.

The 26-year-old missed Marseille's last four matches before the international break with a calf injury, with De Zerbi's side winning two of their games in that time.

The defender, who has made 10 appearances in all competitions for his club this season, is also fighting for a spot in Argentina's World Cup squad next year.

He featured in seven matches during the CONMBEOL World Cup qualifying campaign, where the world champion finished nine points clear at the top of the table.

De Zerbi welcomed the return of Balerdi to the squad, but conceded injuries could prevent second-place Marseille from reaching their goals this season.

"He's still a key player for this team, a starter and our captain," the head coach said. "This is an important season for him, too.

"We have to be at 100% on all fronts; we want to go all the way in every competition. The only thing that worries me is the injuries. We have a strong team. When we're at full-strength, we have a very strong team."

Nice are currently eight points behind Marseille in ninth place, after losing their last two Ligue 1 games before the break.

They have scored just 17 goals in 12 matches so far this season, fewer than any other team in the top half of the French top-flight.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nice – Jonathan Clauss

A former Marseille player, Clauss has recorded more successful crosses per 90 minutes (2.4) than any other player to have played at least 300 minutes in Ligue 1 this season.

The defender has registered one goal and two assists in nine league appearances so far this term.

Marseille – Mason Greenwood

Greenwood is the player who has taken the most penalties in Europe's top five leagues this season (five), four of which he has converted, tying him with Bayern Munich's Harry Kane for the joint-most scored.

No single club in those divisions has scored more penalty goals than the Marseille forward.

MATCH PREDICTION – MARSEILLE WIN

Nice have lost 59 matches against Marseille in Ligue 1 (won 30, drawn 24), at least 10 more defeats than they have suffered against any other opponent in the top flight.

Marseille recorded 1-0 and 3-0 wins over Auxerre and Brest respectively in their last two Ligue 1 games, and could register three consecutive top-flight wins without conceding for the first time since doing so between August and September 2022.

They also have led for 42% of their total playing time in Ligue 1 this season – the highest percentage in the division – and have been behind for just 11% of the time, the lowest ratio.

Nice are on a run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions, their longest such losing streak since suffering five straight reverses between November and December 2020.

However, Nice have won their last two home Ligue 1 matches against Marseille, and could record three consecutive home wins against them for the first time in the last 35 years.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nice – 27.9%

Draw – 24.5%

Marseille – 47.6%