Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-02-14 17:45.
For the sixth consecutive season, Shakhtar Donetsk found themselves unable to progress from their UEFA Champions League group. Now, for the second campaign in succession, they enter the Europa League knockout play-off where theyâll certainly be hoping for a less dramatic outcome than their penalty shootout success over Rennes at the same stage last season.
French opposition stands in their way again in the form of Marseille, a side Shakhtar won both previous H2Hs against. Though the Miners continue to play their âhomeâ games in Germany, theyâll hope to continue their very strong form as hosts against Ligue 1 sides (W4, D4, L1), and few would bet against them considering that theyâve lost just two of the last eight European games theyâve hosted (W3, D3).
Marseille hardly look well placed to diminish that record, as the only win theyâve managed across their last seven matches was a measly 1-0 scoreline against fifth-tier opposition (D4, L2). Gennaro Gattusoâs men find themselves five points adrift of the European places in Ligue 1, so perhaps returning to Europa League action could be a welcome distraction from their domestic struggles.
Just two wins from their last eight European away matches (D1, L5) means further misery could be on the way, while theyâve also never won an away meeting with Ukrainian opposition (D2, L1). Progressing from a Europa League group for the first time in six years could arm the Olympians with momentum though, as they went onto reach the final in 2017/18 before losing to AtlĂ©tico Madrid.
Players to watch: Shakhtar havenât played a competitive game since matchday six of the Champions League back in December. Oleksandr Zubkov assisted for his side that day, as he did in each of his prior three outings (G2, A1). Marseille's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored five times in the groups, and he stands on the brink of history here as he sits just one goal behind the competitionâs record scorer Radamel Falcaoâs tally of 30.
Hot stat: Marseilleâs Europa League group stage matches produced 24 total goals, the joint second-highest tally in the competition.