Marseille (Fra) vs Panathinaikos (Gre) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-08-14 19:00.
Marseille have it all to do if they are to qualify for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification play-off round. The French outfit, who are attempting to reach the tournament’s group stage for the second year running, lost 1-0 away to Panathinaikos in the opening leg, managing just one shot on target and having Geoffrey Kondogbia sent off in the process.
It was hardly the dream start for new manager Marcelino, who took the reins in June and registered the first win of his tenure on the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 season when his side came from behind to beat Reims 2-1. That should give the Phocaeans some confidence going into this game, where they will be looking to build upon their impressive record of four wins from five home outings against Greek opposition (L1).
Panathinaikos will certainly make life very tough for Marseille, as evidenced by their impressive 3-1 away victory over Dnipro-1 in the last round. However, the Greens don’t have a great record when it comes to the UCL third qualifying round, having fallen at this hurdle in three of their last four attempts, which perhaps makes the advantage they hold here seem fragile.
It is no surprise then that head coach Ivan Jovanović admits it would be a “dream” to reach the qualification play-off, and insists he “won’t change” his side’s style of play in order to get through. However, adapting his tactics might not be a bad idea, as the Greek side have a worryingly poor record in France, where they are winless in six previous visits (D2, L4) and alarmingly failed to score in four of those outings.
Key battle: Marseille defender Samuel Gigot is looking to improve on his dismal record of having never won a game in UCL qualifying (D1, L4). Hoping to extend that run is Panathinaikos forward AndraĹľ Ĺ porar, who has netted three goals in as many European matches this season and is now unbeaten in the last 18 fixtures in which he has scored for club and country (W14, D4).
Hot streak: Marseille have never lost the home leg of a European qualifying tie (W5, D3).