Marseille vs Ajax prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-29 20:00.
Marseille and Ajax played out an enthralling 3-3 draw on matchday one of this UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign, but since then, both clubs have appointed new managers. Marseille dispensed with the services of Marcelino a day before the group stage kicked off, appointing Gennaro Gattuso a week later and it’s fair to say that the Italian’s tenure has been mixed so far, with struggles in Ligue 1 (W1, D2, L3) offset by strong form in continental competition.
That success in Group B means L’OM currently sit a point clear at the summit and can rubber-stamp their place in the last 16 with a win on Thursday, providing that second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion lose at AEK Athens. The French giants are one of five clubs to have hit double figures for goals in the UEL group phase but they remain porous in defence, indicated by the fact that only two other teams have scored and conceded at least six goals in the UEL proper this season.
Maurice Steijn’s disastrous four-month spell in charge of Ajax ended last month following a 4-3 defeat at Utrecht that left the Amsterdam outfit second-bottom in the Eredivisie. Since his sacking, there has been a significant upturn in form domestically (W3, D1, L1) but they remain in dire straits in the UEL (D2, L2), with two victories needed and other results to go in their favour in the final two matchdays to reach the UEL knockouts.
A more achievable target is finishing third and securing a transfer to the UEFA Europa Conference League by leapfrogging AEK, but the ignominy of crashing out of the UEL this early will be sorely felt by a club the size of Ajax. That’s because they’ve only once failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition or its UEFA Cup equivalent in five attempts having contested the group phase.
Players to watch: Marseille’s Chancel Mbemba has transformed into a goalscoring centre-back recently, scoring twice in the UEL this term which were both openers in the first 25 minutes. After a slow start at Ajax, Chuba Akpom has exploded in recent weeks, netting five times in as many appearances for the visitors!
Hot streak: Marseille’s openers in the 12 matches in which they’ve scored this campaign have all come inside 30 minutes.