Marseille vs Benfica Prediction & Match Preview

• Marseille have lost five games on the trot across competitions.
• Benfica kept their net untouched in two away outings in the knockout phase of UEFA Europa League this season.
• We saw a total of five shots on target combined by these rivals in the first leg seven days ago in Portugal.

Marseille continued their horrendous spell of form by falling 1-2 away at Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie last week. It was the fifth straight defeat across competitions for the Phocians. Nevertheless, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did find a late goal that kept the French outfit in the tie. Marseille now only have a single-goal deficit to overturn in the rematch on Thursday evening at Orange Velodrome.

The first leg brought us an intense and physical game with the main happenings occurring at the centre of the pitch. We did not see too many chances on either end on the occasion. Benfica scored two goals from three attempts on target while the Phocians failed to register more than a couple of attempts on goal in Portuguese capital.

Marseille were not in action at the weekend due to the Coupe de France final. Benfica did not have any problems storming past Moreirense 3-0 at Estadio da Luz. Head coach Roger Schmidt took advantage of the opportunity to rest some of his main players on Sunday.

Recent Meetings

• Marseille continued their negative trend in the clashes against Benfica last weekend. The Phocians are now winless in five straight games in this matchup.
• Both teams scored in all but one of five head-to-head encounters.
• Rafa Silva and Angel Di Maria were scorers for Benfica in a 2-1 win over Marseille last week in Lisbon.

Marseille vs Benfica Prediction

Marseille have not been pulling up any trees of late and yet they are still very much alive in this tie. The good news for head coach Jean Louis Gasset is that the Phocians only need any kind of victory in front of the home fans to at least force extra-time. The bad news is that Benfica are led by defensive master Roger Schmidt.

While the Portuguese outfit did not shine in recent Europa League affairs, they’ve always found ways to get the wanted results. Benfica thus kept their net untouched in each of two away outings in the knockout phase of Europa League this season (against Toulouse and Rangers).

Knowing about Marseille’s dreadful form, we would not be surprised to see Schmidt and his team defending their way to another positive result, this time on French soil. We will back Benfica to win or draw double chance at the 1.53 odds.

The Under 2.5 goals bet is a perfect alternative option at the 2.10 odds. We’ve seen a total of one goal in two matches Benfica played away from home in the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa League. Marseille have failed to score two or more goals in any of their last five affairs across competitions. We’ve seen only five shots on target by both teams combined in the last week’s first leg on Portuguese soil.

Steffen Schmidt- April 16, 2024

Marseille vs Benfica Betting Tips

Benfica to win or draw

OK

	1.62 Odds
	1.53 Odds

Under 2.5 goals

OK

2.08 Odds

Correct Score: Draw 1-1

OK

	7.00 Odds
	7.00 Odds