Marseille host Red Bull Salzburg in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal on Thursday night. Marseille come into the fixture as the sportsbooks' favourite, but Salzburg have shown the ability to upset the competition's more highly favoured teams throughout the tournament.
These two sides met in the group stage and have already played one another twice in the Europa League Salzburg topped Group I after collecting 12 points from 18. The club was undefeated against Marseille, beating them once and drawing in the other match. In December, Salzburg went to Marseille and collected a 0-0 draw.
The Austrians were already into the knockout phase when the game was played, and Marseille merely needed to avoid defeat to join them. Neither side had a need to attack and score goals. Now in the semifinals, the both clubs will be ready to attack as just two games separate them from the final in Lyon.
Marseille will have their home supporters behind them at the Stade Velodrome, and the club's fans showed just how important home field advantage is in the previous round. After losing 1-0 to RB Leipzig away from home, Marseille stormed back in front of a raucous support to win the second leg of the quarterfinals 5-2 (5-3 on aggregate). The Stade Velodrome will be loud and the atmosphere will be one Salzburg haven't experienced all season.
Marseille are finally returning to the heights the club soared at a few years ago. The club won Ligue 1 in 2010, but since then, Marseille have experienced some of their lowest times since the 1990s. Under the guidance of manager Rudi Garcia, Marseille have played entertaining football. Unbeaten in their last four matches in Ligue 1, Marseille tuned up for Salzburg with a thumping 5-1 win over Lille at the weekend.
Like Marseille, Salzburg came through the quarterfinals in dramatic, come from behind style. The Austrians are much more accomplished than many give them credit for. The club won at the weekend against Altach, 3-1, and are on pace to win the Austrian Bundesliga again. The club has knocked out Borussia Dortmund and Lazio in consecutive rounds, which was no small feat. Marseille will need to be wary of Salzburg's big-game performances to avoid losing at home.
The French side will just edge Salzburg at home, but the Austrians will get an important away goal to take back home for the second leg. Garcia's attacking duo of Dmitri Payet and Florian Thauvin will be able to get the goals needed for a first leg advantage.