Marseille will have it all to do when they take on SL Benfica in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night.
Olympique Marseille will be keen to channel their recent home form in Europe to overturn a one-goal deficit when they take on SL Benfica at the Stade Velodrome on Thursday night.
Goals from Rafa Silva and Angel Di Maria on either side of the half-time break put Benfica in the driving seat before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal halved the deficit in the first leg. The Gabonese ace’s strike will give the French side hope that they can turn the tables and book a spot in the semifinal of the competition.
Jean-Louis Gasset’s side have not appeared convincing when it comes to domestic fixtures but are on an eight-game unbeaten streak in Europe at the Stade Velodrome. While they do have a solid record at home against Portuguese sides, Benfica visited them on their last visit in 2009/10.
The French giants are currently on a five-game losing streak and have not tasted victory in any competition since March 11. A quick turnaround is needed, and a win on Thursday will certainly improve the morale in the squad.
Heading into the upcoming encounter, Benfica boast impressive form, with just one defeat in their last nine outings, a setback against domestic rivals Sporting CP at the beginning of April. Since then, they have clinched six victories and secured two draws, demonstrating resilience following consecutive losses to Sporting in the cup and FC Porto in the league.
Despite their recent setback against Marseille, where Aubameyang narrowed Benfica’s lead, Roger Schmidt’s side remains determined to capitalise on their home advantage and secure a favourable outcome in the reverse fixture in France.
Both Benfica and Marseille have encountered setbacks in European competitions in recent years. However, as they gear up for the quarter-final second leg, both teams are poised to break their disheartening streaks.
Benfica’s unbeaten run since their entry into Europe’s secondary club competition this year is notable, highlighted by clean sheets against Toulouse and Rangers. With a proven ability to secure crucial results away from home, Benfica enter the Velodrome with confidence.
It promises to be an entertaining game with both sides expected to go for it. The winner of the tie will take on either Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham United in the final four. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the game and their tactics.
Team News & Tactics
Olympique Marseille
Jean-Louis Gasset faces a significant challenge with a string of injuries impacting his Marseille squad. The team is likely to be without key players such as Ismaila Sarr and Jonathan Clauss, with both grappling with hamstring issues.
Bamo Meite, Quentin Merlin, Jean Onana, Valentin Rongier, and Bilal Nadir, are all nursing various injuries including ankle, muscle, and knee concerns ahead of Thursday’s crucial fixture. This severely restricts Gasset’s ability to select his first XI for the game.
Marseille are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation with Pau Lopez in goal. He should be protected by the back three of Samuel Gigot, Leonardo Balerdi, and Chancel Mbemba. Geoffrey Kondogbia, Azzedine Ounahi, and Jordan Veretout should form the central midfield trio, with Iliman Ndiaye and Amine Harit providing the width.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should lead the frontline, with Faris Moumbagna alongside him. The Gabonese star is the difference-maker for the home side and will aim to make a telling difference in the tie.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Lopez; Gigot, Balerdi, Mbemba; Harit, Ounahi, Kondogbia, Veretout, Ndiaye; Aubameyang, Moumbagna
SL Benfica
Benfica’s squad appears to be relatively healthy ahead of Thursday’s clash with Marseille, with Juan Bernat being the only injury concern. Schmidt is unlikely to tinker much with the side that won in Portugal and will hope that the same players can see them through.
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Anatoliy Trubin is expected to guard the goal, protected by Alexander Bah, Antonio Silva, Nicolas Otamendi, and Fredrik Aursnes in defence. The tactical versatility of this setup also allows for a seamless transition to a 4-2-1-3 if required.
Florentino Luís and Joao Neves will form the midfield duo, providing a base for the trio of Rafa Silva, Angel Di Maria, and David Neres to push forward. Casper Tengstedt should lead the line up front and will hope to secure some joy on the counter. With Arthur Cabral on the bench, the Eagles will have options if needed.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Bah, A Silva, Otamendi, Aursnes; Florentino Luis, Neves; R Silva, Neres, Di Maria; Tengstedt
Key Stats
- Marseille have not overturned a first-leg deficit in Europe since getting the best of RB Leipzig in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal in 2018.
- Winning the tie will see Benfica qualify for a major European semifinal for the first time since the 2013/14 season.
- Marseille have lost just one of their last five home games against Portuguese sides.
- Benfica are winless in their last five trips to France against Ligue 1 sides. The last time they came out on top was in 2013 against Bordeaux.
- Marseille are unbeaten in their last eight home games in the Europa League, winning five and drawing three in the run.
Player to Watch
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The Marseille striker gave his side hope in the first leg and will now hope to make the difference at the Stade Velodrome. Aubameyang has now notched up 34 goals in the competition, leaving him six shy of Henrik Larsson’s record.
A solid showing could not just see him inch closer to the Swede but also aid Marseille’s progress into the final four. At 34, the Gabonese ace is not getting any younger but continues to rack up the numbers in France. As long as he delivers, the home side can be optimistic about their chances.
Prediction
Olympique Marseille 2-2 Benfica (Benfica to win 4-3 on aggregate)
While Marseille do have poor form, they will be up for a game that can define their season. Benfica, for their part, have enough firepower to respond and have shown the ability to rise to the challenge when needed. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw with the Eagles progressing to the last four.
