Marseille vs Brighton prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-04 16:45.
Marseille showed character in their 2023/24 UEFA Europa League (UEL) opener, managing to secure a spectacular 3-3 draw away to Ajax, despite being 2-0 down after 20 minutes. It’s to be expected that such a spirited comeback would inspire positive momentum, but the Olympians went on to lose their next two matches in Ligue 1 by an aggregate score of 7-2!
After a 3-2 defeat to Monaco on Saturday, the recently appointed coach Gennaro Gattuso expressed his frustration with the relentless fixture schedule, especially since the 2018 UEL finalists have conceded at least three goals in each of their last three outings. The Olympians’ recent record against Premier League clubs at the stade Vélodrome is equally concerning, as they have lost six of their previous eight such matches (W1, D1).
That’s a record Brighton & Hove Albion will be keen to take advantage of, especially after a disappointing 3-2 defeat to AEK Athens in their inaugural match on the European stage. Roberto De Zerbi’s men also appear to be struggling with a congested schedule, as since beating Manchester United 3-1 in mid September, the Seagulls have lost three of their four matches (W1).
A 6-1 humiliation away to Aston Villa last weekend is not the best preparation ahead of this clash, but De Zerbi promised that “a different Brighton" will take to the field on Thursday after suffering their heaviest loss in over a decade! A good start could be key here, considering each of Brighton’s last seven competitive away matches have witnessed the side that opened the scoring emerge victorious (W3, L4).
Key battle: A battle of the strikers could settle this clash, and in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and JoĂŁo Pedro, both sides have forwards who netted a brace on matchday one, with both of them scoring once in each half, levelling the scoreline on each occasion.
Hot stat: Six of Brighton’s last seven away matches saw the opening goal scored in the first 25 minutes.