Marseille go head-to-head against Benfica on Thursday. Read our Predictions and Betting Tips with Match Preview, Head-to-head stats (h2h) and Team Form Analysis.
This match will be played on 19/04/2024 at 03:00
A place in the Europa League semis will be at stake when Olympique Marseille and Benfica face each other at Stade Velodrome. Phmacao OM are on a five-game losing run in all competitions. But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Co. should not be written off just yet. Quentin Merlin limped off with injury in the first leg, with Iliman Ndiaye likely to sneak into the starting XI.
The Eagles, on the other hand, aim to defend their slim lead in Thursday’s clash. Anyhow, both teams to score betting option should be considered as both sides looked sharp in front of goal in the first leg. Juan Bernat is a major doubt and the former Bayern Munich left-back will be assessed ahead of the kick-off. It has to be noted that both sides managed to find the net in each of their last three meetings in all competitions, including friendly games.
Recent Meetings
Marseille continued their negative trend in the clashes against Benfica last weekend. The Phocians are now winless in five straight games in this matchup.
Both teams scored in all but one of five head-to-head encounters.
Rafa Silva and Angel Di Maria were scorers for Benfica in a 2-1 win over Marseille last week in Lisbon.
Marseille vs Benfica Prediction
Marseille have not been pulling up any trees of late and yet they are still very much alive in this tie. The good news for head coach Jean Louis Gasset is that the Phocians only need any kind of victory in front of the home fans to at least force extra-time. The bad news is that Benfica are led by defensive master Roger Schmidt.
While the Portuguese outfit did not shine in recent Europa League affairs. They’ve always found ways to get the wanted results. Benfica thus kept their net untouched in each of two away outings in the knockout phase of Europa League this season (against Toulouse and Rangers).
Knowing about Marseille’s dreadful form. We would not be surprised to see Schmidt and his team defending their way to another positive result. This time on French soil. We will back Benfica to win or draw double chance at the 1.53 odds.
The Under 2.5 goals bet is a perfect alternative option at the 2.10 odds. We’ve seen a total of one goal in two matches Benfica played away from home in the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa League. Marseille have failed to score two or more goals in any of their last five affairs across competitions. We’ve seen only five shots on target by both teams combined in the last week’s first leg on Portuguese soil.