Marseille vs Benfica Predictions, Tips and Odds: Les Phocéens confident of overturning Europa League clash
Marseille and Benfica go head-to-head at Stade Velodrome on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash.
It’s the Portuguese side that hold a 2-1 lead after the first leg with goals from Rafa Silva and Angel Di Maria, followed by what could be a vital strike from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Marseille.
Marseille vs Benfica predictions
Marseille vs Benfica: Predictions |
||
| Bet | Prediction | Bookmaker odds |
| BTTS? | Yes | 4/7 with Betfair |
| Correct Score | Marseille 1-2 Benfica | 10/1 with William Hill |
| First Goalscorer | Angel Di Maria | 10/1 with Sky Bet |
The stats behind our Marseille vs Benfica predictions:
- Marseille are on a five-match losing streak across all competitions.
- However, they have scored at least once in eight of their last 10 matches.
- Benfica have lost just three games (all comps) since the turn of the year, with Sporting CP and Porto the only teams to beat them.
- Angel Di Maria has already scored four goals during this season’s Europa League knockout rounds.
Gasset believes Marseille can overturn Benfica in front of ‘fired-up’ crowd
Jean-Louis Gasset is a manager under pressure with Marseille heading into this match on a five-game losing streak in all competitions. Thursday’s match is effectively their whole season. However, the 70-year-old is hopeful of overturning Benfica after recovering from going 2-0 down in the first leg by controlling the final 30 minutes and grabbing a vital goal through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“The last 30 minutes and the goal leave us a lot of hope for the return leg,” said Gasset. “I’m keeping in mind that we’re still alive, we know where we’ll be playing, who we’ll be playing in front of, we know we are capable of turning things around at home, carried by our home crowd.
“We scored three goals against Shakhtar, four against Villarreal, we like playing in front of our fans, in our stadium, in front of this fired-up crowd. The players love that!”
Gasset conceded that Marseille have frailties on the road at the moment, but can often look a different animal at the Stade Velodrome.
“In European competition, we don’t control away games nearly as well as we do games at home,” he continued, adding: “With the energy of the crowd, the effort of the players, maybe we will employ more offensive tactics. We’ll need to play a near-perfect game to get through to the next round.”
Marseille vs Benfica match tip
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang anytime goalscorer @ 6/5 with Bet UK
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored six of Marseille’s last seven goals (all comps) and is this season’s top UEL goalscorer with 10 goals so far.
Marseille vs Benfica odds
Marseille are favourites in the second leg thanks to home advantage but given the awful form they’re in, few would be surprised to see Benfica get the job done. A draw would be enough for the Portuguese side.
Marseille vs Benfica team news
Marseille team news |
||
| In | Out | Doubtful |
| – | Bamo Meite, Bilal Nadir, Ismaila Sarr, Jean Onana, Jonathan Clauss, Quentin Merlin, Valentin Rongier | – |
Marseille have suffered greatly from injury this season and that remains the case here, with the French side without up to seven players for this clash.
Top Scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (10)
Card Magnet: Ismaila Sarr (4)
Assist Ace: Jonathan Clauss, Amine Harit (6)
Benfica team news |
||
| In | Out | Doubtful |
| – | — | Juan Bernat |
Juan Bernat is Benfica’s only fitness doubt at present and even he has a decent chance of being involved in the squad.
Top Scorer: Angel Di Maria (4)
Card Magnet: Alexander Bah (2)
Assist Ace: Angel Di Maria, David Neres, Casper Tengstedt (1)
How to watch Marseille vs Benfica live
Marseille vs Benfica kicks off on Thursday at 8pm (UK time) and will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 5.
Marseille vs Benfica head-to-head
The only previous meeting between these sides — prior to last week’s 2-1 first-leg win for Benfica — was in the 1990 European Cup semi-finals, when Benfica went through on away goals — eventually losing to AC Milan in the final — following a 2-2 draw across two legs.
BetMGM sign-up offer: Get £40 in bonuses when you bet £10
Not signed up to BetMGM yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at BetMGM using this link.
- Select the Sports Welcome Offer.
- Get the offer from the ‘My Offers’ page.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £40 in bonuses
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Acca, 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.
