Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille have the top spot to aim for when they meet in the final group game at the Amex.
Roberto De Zerbi will have been delighted with his players, who have shown the character to weather the storm early in their UEFA Europa League campaign. The Seagulls’ stuttering form early on ensured they suffered a defeat and draw at the beginning of the group stage. And Brighton & Hove Albion can complete the turnaround against Marseille on Thursday.
A double over Ajax and then their most recent victory against AEK Athens ensured their qualification into the next round. But there is still the coveted top spot at stake for De Zerbi and his charges. It is important to note that the runners-up will end up playing an extra playoff round with a team demoting through the Champions League.
De Zerbi would want to avoid those extra games, meaning the Italian will want his players to show character and secure a win over Marseille at the Amex. After a period of stuttering form, Brighton have some momentum on their side. But they will also want to correct the demoralising draw against Burnley in the Premier League. The Seagulls will have no excuses but to get the win at all costs.
Marseille will travel to the Amex but will come into this vital clash with a slightly different mindset than their hosts. While this is a game neither side will want to lose, the French giants will surely be comfortable with a draw, as that slender one-point advantage will help ease the pressure on them.
Having crashed out of each of their last three European campaigns at the group stage, Marseille would have wanted to prove a point, and they have done it. Moreover, they have stayed unbeaten in this group, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick against Ajax putting them at the top of the pile and above Brighton.
The Gabonese also helped Marseille secure a win over Lorient at the weekend with a brace, as they come to Brighton in top form. They are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, winning four and will aim to make it five in a row and secure the top place in their group on Thursday.
Team News & Tactics
Brighton & Hove Albion
Roberto De Zerbi continues to manoeuvre without a host of crucial first-team stars, as there is no respite from a lengthy injury list. As many as seven critical personnel remain absent for now and the foreseeable future. Joel Veltman, who missed the Burnley clash due to personal reasons, could return to the side and start at right back.
De Zerbi will choose between Jan Paul van Hecke and Igor Julio to partner Lewis Dunk at the heart of the defence. The former might get the nod, which allows Dunk to marshall the right centre-back area. Jack Hinshelwood remains best placed to start at left back ahead of veteran James Milner, who will aim to make an impact off the bench.
Pascal Gross and Billy Gilmour are best placed to continue in central midfield, although Carlos Baleba and Mahmoud Dahoud are also options for De Zerbi. Kaoru Mitoma will also look to get back into the lineup after starting on the bench at the weekend.
Joao Pedro, with five goals to his name from as many games, will undoubtedly have a place in the lineup, with Evan Ferguson likely to lead the line and the Brazilian playing behind him. Simon Adingra will complete the attacking setup by occupying a place on the right wing.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Steele; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood; Gross, Gilmour; Adingra, Pedro, Mitoma; Ferguson
Marseille
Gennaro Gattuso has used a 4-4-2 in European football and will continue to do so when facing Brighton on Thursday. In the league, he has preferred a more pragmatic approach with five at the back. However, in the Europa League, he chooses a different path and that will apply on their trip to Brighton.
Joaquin Correa and Valentin Rongier are out of this contest, while Geoffrey Kondogbia remains in doubt after missing the weekend’s action. The midfielder might go through a late assessment test. But if he’s unable to play, then Azzedine Ounahi will partner Jordan Veretout in central midfield.
Amine Harit and Ismaila Sarr will occupy the wide attacking areas, while in-form striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will lead the line alongside Iliman Ndiaye.
With Gattuso reverting to a back four, Chancel Mbemba and Samuel Gigot are likely to sit at the heart of the Marseille defence. Brazilian Renan Lodi and Jonathan Clauss will occupy the full-back roles, with the latter sent off in Ligue 1 at the weekend but available for selection in Europe.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Lopez; Clauss, Gigot, Mbemba, Lodi; Sarr, Ounahi, Veretout, Harit; Ndiaye, Aubameyang
Key Stats
- Brighton are unbeaten in their last 4 Europa League games.
- Brighton have kept a clean sheet in each of their last 3 Europa League games.
- Marseille are unbeaten in their last 5 games across all competitions.
- Marseille are unbeaten in this season’s Europa League group stage.
- Marseille have suffered elimination in each of their last three European campaigns via the group stages.
Player to Watch
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
With both teams preferably looking for a win to progress through as group winners, Marseille might even stay content with a draw, as Brighton surely need three points. With the French side having the in-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by their side, they do have a game-changer on their hands.
The in-form Gabonese striker will have another point worth proving upon his return to England, where he has suffered in the last few years with Arsenal and Chelsea. The forward has seven goals and three assists from his last four games in all competitions and can become only the second player to reach the 30-goal mark in the Europa League if he scores against Brighton on Thursday.
Prediction
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Marseille
The game has all the hallmarks of an entertaining draw, as it happened in France in the reverse fixture. Marseille and Brighton both have the firepower to punish each other, but both teams could come into this encounter with different agendas.
Marseille will only need a draw, and if they feel at some stage they have a level of control in the game, then Gennaro Gattuso will set it up accordingly. Brighton, with their home advantage, could set the tone early on. But eventually, both teams could suffer and concede at least two goals a piece to see out a draw.
