Marseille is set to clash with Athletic Bilbao at 22:00 on August 9, 2026, in a friendly match as both teams prepare for the upcoming season. The French side has been in solid form, recently securing a convincing 3-0 victory against Al-Shahania, with goals from Igor Paixão, Himad Abdelli, and Quinten Timber. Prior to that, Marseille triumphed over Nîmes Olympique with a score of 2-1, despite suffering a 0-3 defeat to Nice earlier in their pre-season preparations. These results indicate that Marseille is finding a balance between attacking prowess and defensive stability.

On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao arrives in France with impressive pre-season performances. The Basque team recently defeated Burgos CF 3-0 and has maintained a strong record, winning against Racing Santander 3-0, Sestao River Club 2-0, and achieving a staggering 11-0 victory over SD Leioa. Their only blemish was a 2-2 draw against SD Eibar, but overall, their attacking capabilities have significantly improved under new coach Edin Terzić.

This matchup is expected to be fast-paced, as both teams prefer an aggressive style of play. Marseille often utilizes their speedy wingers to create pressure and quickly transition the ball into dangerous areas. The addition of players like Mason Greenwood has provided Marseille with more options for breaking down defenses. Conversely, Athletic Bilbao is experimenting with a more energetic approach, focusing on quick transitions and exploiting spaces behind opposing defenses.

Given both teams' attacking tendencies during pre-season, the match is likely to feature multiple goals. Marseille has consistently scored in recent friendlies, while Bilbao has netted an impressive 21 goals in their last six matches. With defenses still settling and undergoing personnel experiments, a scenario where both teams score seems highly probable. A total of over two goals is a reasonable expectation, with potential scorelines of 2-1 or 2-2 being likely.

In terms of corner kicks, this match is anticipated to have a continuous attacking rhythm. Marseille tends to push their full-backs high up the pitch and frequently utilize the wings to create space. Athletic Bilbao also excels in quick transitions and crossing into the penalty area. With both teams actively exploiting the flanks, the likelihood of the match featuring over eight corner kicks is quite high.

As for yellow cards, the friendly nature of the match may lead to a cautious approach from players. Coaches are likely to prioritize maintaining fitness and avoiding injuries ahead of the new season. Referees typically adopt a lenient stance in pre-season matches, making it probable that the game will conclude with fewer than four yellow cards, unless the pace intensifies significantly towards the end or tactical disputes arise.

In terms of predicted lineups, Marseille is expected to field De Lange; Emerson, Balerdi, Egan-Riley, Bezahaf; Hojbejerg, Gomes; Paixao, Abdelli, Maupay; Abdallah. Athletic Bilbao is likely to start with Padilla; Areso, Alvarez, Paredes, Berchiche; Jauregizar, Rego Mora; Sanchez, Sancet, Berenguer; Sannadi.

In their last five matches, Marseille has won four and lost one, scoring 11 goals and conceding five. Athletic Bilbao has also performed well, winning four and drawing one, with a total of 21 goals scored and only two conceded. Historically, in their last four meetings, Marseille has won two, drawn one, and lost one against Athletic Bilbao.