UEL Preview: Marseille vs Benfica
Olympique de Marseille need to come back from a one goal deficit against Benfica in order to qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League. Can Jean-Louis Gasset's men get the job done in front of a fiery Stade Vélodrome on Thursday evening?
Marseille host Benfica at the Stade Vélodrome in the second-leg of a UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie that is currently being led (2-1) by the Portuguese outfit. Jean-Louis Gasset's side gave themselves a chance to mount a fight-back at home after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goal halved a two-goal lead which was handed to Benfica via Rafa Silva and former arch-nemesis Ángel Di Maria either side of the half-time break.
Despite OM being on a bad run of form (five defeats in all competitions) leading up to the clash at the Vélodrome, Les Olympiens will be hoping to replicate their 2017-2018 comeback against RB Leipzig at the very same stage in the competition (5-3).
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 🫀
📸@world_walkerz pic.twitter.com/ILc7SuThpw
— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) April 15, 2024
Gasset on the Vélodrome: "These people make you surpass yourself, they make you fly."
European nights under the lights at Stade Vélodrome are special, but they bring a different kind of pressure. OM manager Jean-Louis Gasset this week spoke in a lengthy interview with local newspaper La Provence about the intensity of his time at Marseille, and looks ahead to the game against Benfica with excitement.
"Things are taken to a whole new level here. I went home one night and realised that. I've worked at other clubs, though, and I did something great at Montpellier. But Marseille, pfff... Unbelievable," said the 70-year-old veteran manager. "On these European evenings at the Velodrome, the boat rocks, the supporters make you surpass yourself, they make you fly. You want to please them."
Marseille - Benfica: Probable lineups
Olympique de Marseille: Lopez; Soglo, Balerdi, Gigot, Mbemba; Ounahi, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Veretout; Harit; Ndiaye, Auameyang.
Benfica: Trubin; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Aursnes; Florentino, Neves; Di Maria, Rafa, Neres; Tengstedt.