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Europa League Preview: Benfica – Olympique de Marseille
Les Phoceens travel to Lisbon to face the Portuguese league leaders on Thursday evening, with an exciting match in prospect...
| Bet: | Returns: | Bourg-Peronnas £100.00 | Draw £50.00 | Marseille £12.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bourg-Peronnas £80.00 | Draw £50.00 | Marseille £12.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bourg-Peronnas £95.00 | Draw £50.00 | Marseille £12.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bourg-Peronnas £90.00 | Draw £47.50 | Marseille £13.00 |
|
Mar 10, 2010 10:30:00 AM
By Robin Bairner
Kick Off: Thursday, March 11, 2010. 21:05 CET
Estadio da Luz, Lisbon
On A High
Lisbon plays host to what promises to be an open and entertaining Europa League encounter between hosts Benfica and French titans Olympique de Marseille on Thursday evening.
Benfica missed out on the Champions League last season as they finished third behind Porto and Sporting CP in the Portuguese Liga, though they have set about making amends in the correct manner this term. Not only do they command a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, boasting a realistic shot to make it to the last eight, they are importantly well clear of their great rivals in their domestic game.
Having recorded an impressive 55 points from a possible 66, Os Gloriosos find their nearest challengers are relative minnows Braga, who have enjoyed a remarkable surge towards the summit of the domestic game. Even if Benfica were to collapse over the closing 12 rounds of fixtures, the worst they can now surely finish is second, guaranteeing elite level play next term.
Jorge Jesus’ side will want to go into the Champions League with teams fearing them, and a good run in the Europa League would be an ideal introduction. Already they have dispatched the challenge of German strugglers Hertha after topping a group that included Premier League side Everton, so the free-scoring Portuguese are definitely moving in the right direction.
Room For Optimism
Having dropped out of the Champions League, pushing Real Madrid and Milan to the final matchday of the group stage before finally being eliminated, Didier Deschamps’ Marseille side are clearly in the mood for silverware. While some sides choose to heavily rotate their teams for Europa League play, OM played a strong unit as they defeated Copenhagen 6-2 in the previous round.
These actions have been backed up by words, most notably from club record signing Lucho Gonzalez, who is starting to find his feet in France after an injury-disrupted start following his summer move from Porto. Having played for several seasons in Portugal, the Argentine international will know the scale of the task facing OM, but he is evidently keen for his new employers to excel.
In continental competition, les Phoceens have tended to perform better at Stade Velodrome, though they will have been encouraged by their fine performance away to Milan, which ultimately ended in a draw, and wins over FC Zurich and Copenhagen.
Additionally, Didier Deschamps has his side rolling well in the domestic game, with a fine winning streak of four league matches only arrested by a truly remarkable goalkeeping performance by Lorient custodian Fabien Audard in the clubs’ 1-1 weekend draw.
Without a trophy for almost two decades, Marseille are a club hungry for success and will surely put everything into earning a good result on Thursday evening.
FORM GUIDE
Benfica
WON 3-1 (h) Pacos de Ferreira (Liga, March 7)
WON 4-0 (a) Leixoes (Liga, February 28)
WON 4-0 (h) Hertha (Europa League, February 23)
DREW 1-1 (a) Hertha (Europa League, February 18)
WON 1-0 (h) Belenenses (Liga, February 13)
Marseille
DREW 1-1 (h) Lorient (Ligue 1, March 7)
WON 3-0 (a) Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, February 28)
WON 3-1 (h) Copenhagen (Europa League, February 25)
WON 3-1 (h) Nancy (Ligue 1, February 21)
WON 3-1 (a) Copenhagen (Europa League 18)
TEAM NEWS
Benfica
The Portuguese side’s squad is in excellent nick, with no major players injured or suspended. Javi Garcia is expected to come back into the starting XI after missing out at the weekend, while other changes are likely to be minor. Julio Cesar is expected to take over in goal.
Probable Starting XI: Cesar; Pereira, Luisao, Luiz, Peixoto; Ramires, Garcia, Aimar, Di Maria; Saviola, Cardozo
Marseille
Worries over the fitness of Mamadou Niang, who had to be withdrawn after an hour at the weekend, have been somewhat allayed, and he could be handed a role in Lisbon.
Gabriel Heinze is likely to miss at least another fortnight with a hamstring injury, while Cyril Rool is out. Long-term injury worry Julien Rodriguez is making progress towards fitness and hopes to be ready for the end of the season. If he is not fully recovered by the start of next term, he has indicated his willingness to quit the game.
Some rotation is possible, with Charles Kabore, Hilton and Bakari Kone amongst those clamouring for precious game-time.
Probable Starting XI: Mandanda; Bonnart, Mbia, Diawara, Taiwo; Cisse, Cheyrou; Valbuena, Lucho, Ben Arfa; Brandao
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Benfica
Though Javier Saviola may be more of a household name, Oscar Cardoza is presently the man doing much of the damage for Benfica. The tall Paraguayan hitman has been in a rich vein of form this term, nearly tallying 20 domestic league goals already, and complimenting those with seven goals in the Europa League. He is definitely one for the French side to watch out for.
Marseille
Hatem Ben Arfa has been resurgent since being handed an opportunity to showcase his talents in January. The winger seems to be showing more maturity on the park after a long spell firmly rooted to the bench. Tricky and direct in possession, he also poses a significant goal threat and would surely have struck at the weekend had it not been for a magnificent performance from Lorient goalkeeper Audard. Expect the France international to be one of OM’s main dangers.
PREDICTION
It’s always difficult to travel away in Europe and gain a positive result, particularly against a side so obviously buoyant. Marseille certainly have the players to threaten their hosts, and to that end expect les Phoceens to score, but it should also be anticipated that a home win is on the cards. This should be an open and entertaining game on paper.
Benfica 2-1 Olympique de Marseille
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Estadio da Luz, Lisbon
On A High
Lisbon plays host to what promises to be an open and entertaining Europa League encounter between hosts Benfica and French titans Olympique de Marseille on Thursday evening.
Benfica missed out on the Champions League last season as they finished third behind Porto and Sporting CP in the Portuguese Liga, though they have set about making amends in the correct manner this term. Not only do they command a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, boasting a realistic shot to make it to the last eight, they are importantly well clear of their great rivals in their domestic game.
Having recorded an impressive 55 points from a possible 66, Os Gloriosos find their nearest challengers are relative minnows Braga, who have enjoyed a remarkable surge towards the summit of the domestic game. Even if Benfica were to collapse over the closing 12 rounds of fixtures, the worst they can now surely finish is second, guaranteeing elite level play next term.
Jorge Jesus’ side will want to go into the Champions League with teams fearing them, and a good run in the Europa League would be an ideal introduction. Already they have dispatched the challenge of German strugglers Hertha after topping a group that included Premier League side Everton, so the free-scoring Portuguese are definitely moving in the right direction.
Room For Optimism
Having dropped out of the Champions League, pushing Real Madrid and Milan to the final matchday of the group stage before finally being eliminated, Didier Deschamps’ Marseille side are clearly in the mood for silverware. While some sides choose to heavily rotate their teams for Europa League play, OM played a strong unit as they defeated Copenhagen 6-2 in the previous round.
These actions have been backed up by words, most notably from club record signing Lucho Gonzalez, who is starting to find his feet in France after an injury-disrupted start following his summer move from Porto. Having played for several seasons in Portugal, the Argentine international will know the scale of the task facing OM, but he is evidently keen for his new employers to excel.
In continental competition, les Phoceens have tended to perform better at Stade Velodrome, though they will have been encouraged by their fine performance away to Milan, which ultimately ended in a draw, and wins over FC Zurich and Copenhagen.
Additionally, Didier Deschamps has his side rolling well in the domestic game, with a fine winning streak of four league matches only arrested by a truly remarkable goalkeeping performance by Lorient custodian Fabien Audard in the clubs’ 1-1 weekend draw.
Without a trophy for almost two decades, Marseille are a club hungry for success and will surely put everything into earning a good result on Thursday evening.
Headache | Deschamps plot OM's route to victory
FORM GUIDE
Benfica
WON 3-1 (h) Pacos de Ferreira (Liga, March 7)
WON 4-0 (a) Leixoes (Liga, February 28)
WON 4-0 (h) Hertha (Europa League, February 23)
DREW 1-1 (a) Hertha (Europa League, February 18)
WON 1-0 (h) Belenenses (Liga, February 13)
Marseille
DREW 1-1 (h) Lorient (Ligue 1, March 7)
WON 3-0 (a) Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, February 28)
WON 3-1 (h) Copenhagen (Europa League, February 25)
WON 3-1 (h) Nancy (Ligue 1, February 21)
WON 3-1 (a) Copenhagen (Europa League 18)
TEAM NEWS
Benfica
The Portuguese side’s squad is in excellent nick, with no major players injured or suspended. Javi Garcia is expected to come back into the starting XI after missing out at the weekend, while other changes are likely to be minor. Julio Cesar is expected to take over in goal.
Probable Starting XI: Cesar; Pereira, Luisao, Luiz, Peixoto; Ramires, Garcia, Aimar, Di Maria; Saviola, Cardozo
Marseille
Worries over the fitness of Mamadou Niang, who had to be withdrawn after an hour at the weekend, have been somewhat allayed, and he could be handed a role in Lisbon.
Gabriel Heinze is likely to miss at least another fortnight with a hamstring injury, while Cyril Rool is out. Long-term injury worry Julien Rodriguez is making progress towards fitness and hopes to be ready for the end of the season. If he is not fully recovered by the start of next term, he has indicated his willingness to quit the game.
Some rotation is possible, with Charles Kabore, Hilton and Bakari Kone amongst those clamouring for precious game-time.
Probable Starting XI: Mandanda; Bonnart, Mbia, Diawara, Taiwo; Cisse, Cheyrou; Valbuena, Lucho, Ben Arfa; Brandao
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Benfica
Though Javier Saviola may be more of a household name, Oscar Cardoza is presently the man doing much of the damage for Benfica. The tall Paraguayan hitman has been in a rich vein of form this term, nearly tallying 20 domestic league goals already, and complimenting those with seven goals in the Europa League. He is definitely one for the French side to watch out for.
Marseille
Hatem Ben Arfa has been resurgent since being handed an opportunity to showcase his talents in January. The winger seems to be showing more maturity on the park after a long spell firmly rooted to the bench. Tricky and direct in possession, he also poses a significant goal threat and would surely have struck at the weekend had it not been for a magnificent performance from Lorient goalkeeper Audard. Expect the France international to be one of OM’s main dangers.
PREDICTION
It’s always difficult to travel away in Europe and gain a positive result, particularly against a side so obviously buoyant. Marseille certainly have the players to threaten their hosts, and to that end expect les Phoceens to score, but it should also be anticipated that a home win is on the cards. This should be an open and entertaining game on paper.
Benfica 2-1 Olympique de Marseille
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