Marseille and Brighton & Hove Albion will meet in a crucial Europa League Group B match on Thursday, just days after both sides suffered disappointing results in their domestic leagues.
Marseille opened their Europa League campaign with a spectacular 3-3 draw away to Ajax, but they have since lost their last two Ligue 1 matches by an aggregate score of 7-2.
Brighton also started their Europa League campaign with a draw, but they were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by AEK Athens. They have since lost three of their four Premier League matches, including a 6-1 humiliation away to Aston Villa last weekend.
Despite their recent struggles, both Marseille and Brighton will be desperate to get their Europa League campaigns back on track. Marseille will be looking to take advantage of their home advantage, while Brighton will be hoping to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Aston Villa.
Key Battle
A battle of the strikers could settle this clash, and in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and João Pedro, both sides have forwards who netted a brace on matchday one. Both Aubameyang and Pedro scored once in each half, levelling the scoreline on each occasion.
Aubameyang has been in good form for Marseille this season, scoring five goals in all competitions. He will be looking to add to his tally against Brighton and help his side to secure victory.
Pedro is a new signing for Brighton, and he has made a bright start to his career at the club. He has scored three goals in five appearances in all competitions, and he will be hoping to continue his scoring form against Marseille.
Six of Brighton’s last seven away matches saw the opening goal scored in the first 25 minutes. This suggests that a good start could be key to victory for either side in this match.
Prediction
This is a tough match to predict, as both teams are struggling for form. However, Marseille’s home advantage could give them the edge. I predict a narrow 2-1 victory for Marseille.
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