Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League clash between Marseille and Brighton & Hove Albion, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Brighton & Hove Albion travel to the Stade Velodrome in France to take on Marseille in their second Europa League group-stage fixture on Thursday night.
The two teams failed to claim maximum points in their opening Group B games two weeks ago, with the Seagulls losing their first-ever European match at home to AEK Athens, while Les Olympiens played out a thrilling six-goal draw with Ajax.
Match preview
© Reuters
A day after the departure of head coach Marcelino, Jacques Abardonado was placed in interim charge for Marseille’s opening Europa League clash with Ajax, and the French outfit came from behind twice to rescue a point in an entertaining 3-3 draw in the Netherlands, largely thanks to a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
That draw was the third in a row for Les Olympiens, who have since suffered back-to-back Ligue 1 defeats, with a heavy 4-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain followed by a 3-2 defeat against early league leaders Monaco last weekend – Genaro Gattuso‘s first game in charge since his appointment as manager a week ago.
Marseille, who have now won just one of their last seven games in all competitions, currently sit 12th in the Ligue 1 table and although they are only four points adrift of the top three, Gattuso has a tough task on his hands to turn the club’s fortunes around and win over the club’s supporters.
The French giants have found it difficult to escape the group stage of any European competition over the last 10 years, failing to reach the knockout rounds in each of their last six appearances in either the Champions League or Europa League, while they have only won one of their last 16 Europa League group games.
Marseille record against English opposition also leaves a little to be desired as they have come out on top in only one of their previous 15 competitive meetings with Premier League teams, but the recent drop-off in Brighton’s form provides them with an element of optimism heading into Thursday’s clash.
© Reuters
Indeed, Brighton were flying high on the domestic front before they began their first-ever Europa League campaign, winning four of their opening five Premier League games, but they were brought back down the earth when they suffered a 3-2 home defeat to AEK Athens two weeks ago.
Joao Pedro‘s restored parity twice for the Seagulls from the penalty spot, but their Greek counterparts had the last laugh as Ezequiel Ponce netted an 84th-minute winner to snatch all three points on the South Coast.
Brighton have since won one and lost two of their last three games in all competitions including back-to-back away defeat to Chelsea and Aston Villa, suffering a heavy 6-1 loss to the latter in the Premier League last weekend and conceding six top-flight goals in a single game for the very first time.
Defeat at Villa Park was certainly a reality check for Roberto De Zerbi‘s team, who are still adjusting to the rigours that come with juggling domestic and European duties, and their hectic fixture schedule does not get any easier as their tricky trip to Marseille is followed by a Premier League clash with Liverpool before they can take a breather during the international break.
Brighton will look to replicate last month’s impressive away performance at Manchester United – a 3-1 Premier League win – when they travel to France on Thursday, as they endeavour to avoid becoming the third English club after Nottingham Forest in 1961-62 and Aston Villa in 1975-76 to lose their first two European games.
Marseille Europa League form:
Marseille form (all competitions):
Brighton & Hove Albion Europa League form:
Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):
Advert – content below:
Team News
© Reuters
Marseille midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia remains sidelined with a groin injury, but former Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye and former Watford winger Ismaila Sarr both recovered from injury to feature in the loss at Monaco last weekend, and they are in contention to play again on Thursday.
Gattuso is set to stick with a 4-3-3 formation, with full-backs Jonathan Clauss and Michael Murillo operating either side of central defenders Samuel Gigot and Chancel Mbemba, while Amine Harit will hope to replace Azzedine Ounahi in centre-midfield.
Aubameyang, who scored three goals against Brighton during his time at Arsenal, is expected to continue as the central striker, with Ndiaye and Joaquin Correa set to join the Gabon international in the front three.
As for Brighton, Julio Enciso and Jakub Moder (both knee) remain long-term absentees, while Pascal Gross, James Milner (both muscle) and Adam Lallana (unspecified) are all doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Following a poor defensive display against Aston Villa, centre-back duo Igor Julio and Jan Paul van Hecke will be pushing to start ahead of Adam Webster, while Tariq Lamptey could replace Joel Veltman at right-back.
Pedro and Ansu Fati, who scored his first Brighton goal last weekend, made an impact off the bench against Villa, and the attacking duo could be recalled to the first XI at the expense of Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson, while teenager Jack Hinshelwood may lose his place in centre-midfield to either Carlos Baleba or Mahmoud Dahoud.
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Clauss, Mbemba, Gigot, Murillo; Ounahi, Rongier, Veretout; Ndiaye, Aubameyang, Correa
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Lamptey, Igor, Dunk, Estupinan; Gilmour, Dahoud; March, Fati, Mitoma; Pedro
We say: Marseille 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Both Marseille and Brighton have regularly looked a threat in the final third this season but have shown signs of weakness at the back, so an entertaining end-to-end contest could be on the cards on Thursday.
The two teams will be desperate to quickly put aside their recent setbacks on the domestic front, but they may have to settle for a share of the spoils on this occasion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
