Benfica defeated Marseille 2-1 in their Europa League quarterfinal first leg match at the Stadio da Luz. Will our algorithm predict a Benfica win in the second leg and progression to the semifinals?
Marseille are on a terrible run of form. OM are on a five-match losing streak in all competitions. It has been a poor season for Marseille, and it could get worse, if they fail to progress to the Europa League semifinals.
Benfica ran out to a 2-0 lead in the first leg thanks to goals from Rafa Silva in the 16th minute and Angel Di Maria in the 52ns minute. Pierre-Emerick Aubmeyang pulled a goal back for Marseille, but that was as close as they could get.
𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽 ! 💪📈 𝟭𝟬𝗲̀𝗺𝗲 but de la saison en @EuropaLeague pour @Auba 🇬🇦 ! #SLBOM#SublimeCôtedIvoire ✨ pic.twitter.com/rJof7OaLRm— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) April 13, 2024
𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽 ! 💪📈 𝟭𝟬𝗲̀𝗺𝗲 but de la saison en @EuropaLeague pour @Auba 🇬🇦 ! #SLBOM#SublimeCôtedIvoire ✨ pic.twitter.com/rJof7OaLRm
Despite the three goals, neither team were accurate with their shooting. Marseille had just two shots on target from 12 shots.
Benfica had three shots on target from 10 shots. Meanwhile, Benfica had 57% possession during the match.
The Eagles are on a two-match winning streak in all competitions. After last week’s win over Marseille, Benfica followed it up with a 3-0 win against Moreirense in the Portugal Liga.
Marseille did not play at the weekend in Ligue 1. Manager Jean-Louis Gasset’s team should be well-rested for the fixture at home.
Gasset is Marseille’s fourth manager of the season. Regardless of the man in charge this season, Marseille have been poor for the majority of the campaign.
OM are ninth in the standings and sinking down the table thanks to their current losing streak.
Marseille are the slight favourites according to leading bookmakers ahead of the clash on Thursday night. Despite being favourites, Marseille have only defeated Benfica on one previous occasion.
These teams have played seven times in total previously. Benfica posted a record of 4W-2D-1L during that time. Of their seven all-time meetings, three have come in the Europa League. Benfica went unbeaten in all three of those fixtures.
Silva, who scored in the first leg, leads Benfica in goal scoring stats, with 16 goals in all competitions.
Thirty-six-year-old Di Maria, who also scored in the first leg, is second in Benfica’s goal scoring statistics with 13. No other Benfica player has more than six goals.
Aubameyang is Marseille’s leading goal scorer with 23 goals in all competitions. No other Marseille player has scored more than five goals. Aubameyang has been OM’s only bright spot.
Our algorithm has produced a score prediction of 2-2. The result will see Benfica into the semifinals of the Europa League.