Prediction: Marseille to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
Olympique de Marseille and Villarreal will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa League this week. The first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie between the Ligue 1 club and the La Liga outfit will be held at Stade Vélodrome and is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time on Thursday.
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille are one of the biggest clubs in France and are historic as well. Marseille have a huge following and regularly play in top European club competitions, such as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. They will fancy their chances of going all the way in the UEFA Europa League this season.
Marseille are seventh in the Ligue 1 table at the moment with 36 points from 24 matches. Jean-Louis Gasset’s side are five points behind Lille in fourth and could still end up in the UEFA Champions League places.
Les Phoceens will head into the UEFA Europa League game against Villarreal on the back of a 5-1 victory over Clermont away from home in Ligue 1. It came after a 4-1 win against Montpellier at home in the league.
Team News:
Olympique de Marseille are likely to line up in a 3-5-2 formation. Pau Lopez will be in goal for the French club and will have Mbemba, Meite and Balerdi in front of him in defence. Clauss, Harit, Kondogbia, Ounahi and Merlin will be in midfield. Moumbagna and Aubameyang will be the two forwards.
Villarreal
Villarreal have become a very big club in Spain over the past 20 or so years and are also regulars in major European club competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. They do well in La Liga and will fancy their chances of going all the way.
The Yellow Submarine are 12th in the La Liga table at the moment with 32 points from 27 matches. Villarreal are 13 points above the bottom three and are 23 points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Villarreal will head into the UEFA Europa League game against Marseille on the back of a 5-1 victory over Granada at home in La Liga. It came after a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad on the road in the league which followed a 1-1 draw with Getafe in the league.
Team News:
Villarreal are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 formation. Reina will be in goal for the Spanish club and will have Kiko Femenia, Mosquera, Jorge Cuenca and Alberto Moreno ahead of him in defence. Akhomach, Parejo, Capoue and Baena will be the four midfielders. Sorloth and Gerard Moreno will lead the line for Villarreal.
Key Factors to Consider
- Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 16 goals and given 8 assists in 31 matches in all competitions for Marseille this season.
- Alexander Sorloth has scored 14 goals and given 4 assists in 27 matches in all competitions for Villarreal this season.
- Gerard Moreno has scored 11 goals and provided 3 assists in 28 matches in all competitions for Villarreal this season.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 7 goals and provided 1 assist in 7 UEFA Europa League matches for Marseille this season.
- Marseille have won their last two Ligue 1 matches.
Conclusion
Both Marseille and Villarreal are good teams and will fancy their chances of winning the tie. The first leg will be key. Playing at home will give Marseille an advantage, and it is hard to see them slip up in front of their fans.
Prediction: Marseille to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
