The race for a spot in the Europa League final is heating up, with Marseille and Atalanta set to clash in the semi-final first leg.
The match is scheduled for May 2nd at the Stade Vélodrome in France. Marseille currently sits 7th in Ligue 1 with 44 points, while Atalanta occupies the 6th position in Serie A with 57 points.
Match Preview
Marseille enters the game on the back of a 2-1 victory over Lens at home in Ligue 1 over the weekend.
The quick scoring by Marseille in just 1 minute set the tone, though Lens managed to equalize in the 77th minute. Marseille secured the win with a goal in the 85th minute.
This victory extends Marseille’s unbeaten run to 4 matches across all competitions, including a 1-0 home win over Benfica in the Europa League and draws with Toulouse and Nice in Ligue 1.
In the Europa League, Marseille has won 3 of their last 5 matches, all of which were at home. Additionally, they have won each of their last 5 home Europa League matches, with both teams scoring in 4 of their last 6 home fixtures.
Atalanta heads to the Stade Vélodrome following a 2-0 home win over Empoli in Serie A.
Atalanta’s victory over Empoli marks their third consecutive win in all competitions, including an impressive 4-1 home victory over Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia semi-final and a 2-1 away win at Monza in Serie A.
In the Europa League, Atalanta has been formidable, remaining undefeated in 9 of their last 10 matches. They are also unbeaten in their last 8 away games in the competition, with both teams scoring in 4 of their last 6 away fixtures.
Atalanta showcased their strength with a remarkable 3-0 win at Liverpool in the previous round of the Europa League.
Team News & Updates:
Marseille will miss Bamo Meïté, Chancel Mbemba, Quentin Merlin, and Valentin Rongier due to injuries.
Atalanta will be without Rafael Toloi and Emil Holm.
Prediction & Analysis:
Both Marseille and Atalanta boast formidable home and away records, respectively, making it challenging to predict a clear winner.
However, with their recent scoring form and defensive solidity, we anticipate both teams finding the back of the net.
The match is likely to end in a draw, setting the stage for an enthralling second leg in Italy.
- Marseille 2-2 Atalanta
