Marseille vs Benfica Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Welcome to France, and, more specifically, bettingexpert’s Marseille vs Benfica prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. Marseille looked in massive trouble when they found themselves 2-0 down in the first leg but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s clinical finish ensured they stayed in the tie at only 1-2 down. 

This competition is the full priority for both sides now this season and everything is to play for at the Stade Velodrome. Ligue 1 expert Steve Wyss previews the second leg looking for the best betting angles. 

• Marseille vs Benfica Tip 1: Over 2.75 Goals
• Marseille vs Benfica Tip 2: Angel Di Maria to Score Anytime
• Marseille vs Benfica Tip 3: Pierre Emerick-Aubemeyang to Score Anytime

Marseille vs Benfica Prediction 1: Second leg can see a repeat of frantic affair

UEFA Europa League, Thursday 18th April 20:00 (UK)

The first leg in Portugal was a thrilling game of football and probably should have seen more goals. There is a slight concern that Benfica might go into their shell like they did in previous away legs vs Toulouse and Rangers, but I don’t think Marseille will let this match die a death. They will come at this fixture hard with their whole season effectively on the line. The French side certainly created opportunities last week so can be confident of generating a significant threat.

It’s quite clear that Marseille’s defence is not playing particularly well. A combination of injuries, constant changing of personnel and playing better teams has seen them concede 12 goals in their last five games. Benfica will know there is a huge chance to catch them out and score at least once past this poor looking backline. 

Over 2.75 Goals feels like a good bet here, and this goal line should be at least 3.00, considering this is a second leg where things can often get open and wild. If Benfica scores, which is highly probable, then this could become a crazy game. 

• Marseille vs Benfica Prediction 1: Over 2.75 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.98
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 8/10

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Marseille vs Benfica Prediction 2: Di Maria to land another blow on OM

Angel Di Maria delivered for us in the first leg and scored anytime at juicy odds of 3.40. His price has now gone up to 4.00, and I feel like we must strike again. The Argentine has combined to score or assist nearly 30 times this year across all competitions and remains a brilliant technician who merits respect.

 Di Maria was given a rest at the weekend in the Portuguese league, so they should be fresh and ready to perform. He attempted three shots in the first leg and was a constant menace. 

Di Maria scored twice against Toulouse in the playoff round, and he also netted against Rangers. He is a man who probably still enjoys the limelight and raises his game for the bigger occasion. There is also a good chance that he will be on penalty-taking duty. He’s taken five of the last seven spot kicks for Benfica and netted on four occasions. 

Being a former PSG player, he would absolutely love to score at the Stade Velodrome, where he is sure to be given a hostile reception. The change in odds to 4.00 is a little disrespectful on a player who is arguably Benfica’s biggest threat.

• Marseille vs Benfica Prediction 2: Angel Di Maria to Score Anytime (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 4.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 3/10

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Marseille vs Benfica Prediction 3: Hosts to lean on reliable Aubameyang

The big positive for Marseille to take out of the first leg was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reducing the arrears to make it 2-1 and OM staying in the tie. He produced a clinical and composed finish that should give the French side some belief. 

If they are to progress to the semi finals then they are probably going to need him to perform again. With the Marseille defence looking shaky, they’ll likely need to net multiple goals to progress, which puts Aubameyang right in the frame.

He can be backed at 2.25 to score anytime which looks like a fair price. This is a man who has scored 25 goals across all competitions this season and some of his better football has come in Europe. 

Auba has a mightily impressive record of 12 goals from 12 appearances in UEFA competitions, so clearly raises his level for the big occasion. Recent goals against Lille and Benfica show he is hot right now and if OM do get on the scoresheet he is by far the most likely player to net. Add on the fact he’ll be on penalty duty and he looks like a strong anytime scoring option. 

• Marseille vs Benfica Prediction 3: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Score Anytime (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.25
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 4/10

Marseille vs Benfica Prediction odds via bet365 as at 09:00, April 15th 2024. Odds may now differ.

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Marseille vs Benfica  Team News and Possible Lineups: Merlin injury spells trouble for OM

Marseille left back Quentin Merlin got injured in the first leg and will miss approximately 2-3 weeks with an ankle problem. The hope is that Jonathan Clauss will be fit enough to return, but he could be a game time decision. Benfica are unlikely to make many changes, although Joao Mario could come into the side at the expense of Casper Tengstedt.

Marseille possible starting lineup:
Lopez, Clauss, Gigot, Balerdi, Mbemba, Kondogbia, Veretout, Luis Henrique, Aubameyang, Moumbagna, Harit

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin, Aursnes, Otamendi, Antonio Silva, Bah, Florentino, Neves, David Neres, Rafa Silva, Di Maria, Joao Mario

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Match OPTA Stats: Stade Velodrome a Happy Hunting Ground for European Hosts

• Marseille are looking to progress from a European knockout tie after losing the first leg for the first time  since 2017-18 when OM lost 0-1 to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final before  winning 5-2 at home to progress to the semi-final (5-3 agg). Since then, they’ve been eliminated in both of  their last two knockout ties after losing the first leg. 
• Benfica are looking to reach the semi-final of a major European competition for the first time since 2013-14 in the UEFA Europa League before being eliminated by Juventus at that stage. The last time Portuguese  outfit won the first leg of a Europa League quarter-final (4-2 v Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019), they went on to  lose 0-2 in the second-leg and were knocked out on away goals. 
• Marseille have won four of their last five home games against Portuguese sides in all competitions (L1),  though they did lose the last time they hosted Benfica (2-1 in the 2009-10 UEFA Europa League). 
• Benfica are winless in their last five away games against French sides in all competitions (D3 L2) since  beating Bordeaux 3-2 in March 2013. 
• New Marseille manager Jean-Louis Gasset won his first five games in charge but has now lost five consecutively.
• Marseille are unbeaten in each of their last eight UEFA Europa League home matches (W5 D3), winning all of their last four at the Stade Vélodrome and scoring 3+ goals in all four victories. 
• Benfica have lost just one of their last six away matches in the UEFA Europa League (W2 D3), keeping a  clean sheet in both of their last two trips – they’ve never kept three consecutive away clean sheets in the  competition (UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup)
• The last ten matches for Marseille in all competitions have ended with at least two goals in each.

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Marseille Fixtures: Nothing remarkable on the horizon

• Vs Toulouse (A)
• Vs Nice (H)
• Vs Lens (H)
• Vs Reims (A)
• Vs Lorient (H)

Benfica Fixtures: Easy set of domestic fixtures to end the season

• Vs Farense (A)
• Vs Braga (H)
• Vs Famalicao (A)
• Vs Arouca (H)
• Vs Rio Ave (H)

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