Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Atalantavs.Marseille

sportsmole.co.uk, 7 May 2024, 14:46
A place in the Europa League final will be at stake when Atalanta BC welcome Marseille to Bergamo on Thursday, with their semi-final tie finely poised after last week's first leg.

The Serie A side are just one game away from their first European final, but OM are also intent on meeting either Roma or Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin.

Match preview

At the end of their first-ever meeting, Atalanta and Marseille could not be split at Stade Velodrome, as La Dea proved unable to retain a lead earned by Gianluca Scamacca's 11th-minute opener.

Soon after the striker made it six goals in as many games, Chancel Mbemba drew OM level, scoring spectacularly from outside the box to bag his fourth Europa League goal of the season - more than any other defender across UEFA's three club competitions.

Though substitute Aleksei Miranchuk came close to snatching a precious winner in the final moments, the scoreline ultimately finished all square, setting up a high-stakes contest at the Gewiss Stadium.

Having now extended their unbeaten away run in Europe to 11 matches - including last month's superb 3-0 win at Anfield - Atalanta return to home turf, where they have won 11 of their last 14 matches.

Indeed, throughout their history in the Europa League and its predecessor the UEFA Cup, the Nerazzurri have lost just two of 17 home games, winning 10 and keeping eight clean sheets in the process.

Gian Piero Gasperini's current side are not only thriving in Europe but have also booked a place in this year's Coppa Italia final - they meet Juventus in Rome later this month - and are in contention to earn Champions League qualification via Serie A.

Following Monday's 2-1 comeback win over relegated Salernitana, Atalanta sit fifth in the standings with four games remaining, and Italy's top flight will have five seats at Europe's top table next season.

The Lombardy club are already enjoying a golden era under their experienced head coach, but becoming the first Italian club to claim the Europa League would see 'Gasp' cement his status as an all-time great in Bergamo.

While Atalanta are yet to make it all the way to a continental final, their opponents boast a rich tradition in that respect, having been crowned champions of Europe in 1993 and subsequently lost the 1999, 2004 and 2018 UEFA Cup/Europa League deciders.

Furthermore, Marseille have won each of their last three semi-final ties in UEFA's second-tier tournament, but they must now try to improve on their recent away record in order to progress past La Dea.

OM have won just one of six away games in Europe this season - losing at Villarreal and Benfica in the knockout phase alone - as well as picking up a dismal 11 points on the road in Ligue 1.

That is the joint-worst tally throughout the French top flight, yet they remain in the hunt for European qualification, lying five points behind sixth-placed Lens with one game in hand.

Jean-Louis Gasset's side were spared any domestic action at the weekend, due to their involvement in Europe, so they have had a full week to prepare for the test that awaits in Italy.

Having stepped in to become Marseille's third manager of the season, Gasset has helped the south coast side emerge from their latest crisis, and his short-term deal could even end in glory later this month.

Winning the Europa League would also secure a spot in next season's Champions League, but overcoming Atalanta, then either Roma or the new German champions, is a tall task indeed.

Atalanta BC Europa League form:

W

D

W

W

L

D

Atalanta BC form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

D

W

Marseille Europa League form:

W

W

L

L

W

D

Marseille form (all competitions):

L

W

D

D

W

D

Team News

After suffering an injury in last week's match, ex-Marseille defender Sead Kolasinac has joined Emil Holm and Atalanta club captain Rafael Toloi on the sidelines - though the latter has just returned to training, he will not yet be considered for selection.

Gian Piero Gasperini's defensive options are improved, though, by the return of Swedish centre-back Isak Hien, who was suspended for the first leg.

Having rested a number of players in Monday's game at Stadio Arechi, Gasperini is set to recall Teun Koopmeiners - who fired home a trademark long-range winner against Salernitana - Charles De Ketelaere and Berat Djimsiti.

Scorer of La Dea's opening goal in Salerno, Gianluca Scamacca has scored five of Atalanta's seven goals in the Europa League knockout stages so far - only Marseille's prolific frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can match that tally since the group phase.

All told, Aubameyang has 10 goals in the competition this season and is also its all-time top scorer; Ismaila Sarr, Faris Moumbagna and Iliman Ndiaye are the main contenders to partner him up front on Thursday.

Samuel Gigot is back from a one-match ban, so Amir Murillo may make way from the visitors' back three, which should be led by first-leg hero Chancel Mbemba; Bamo Meite and OM captain Valentin Rongier are both ruled out by injury.

Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:

Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Scalvini; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, De Ketelaere; Scamacca

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Lopez; Mbemba, Gigot, Balerdi; Clauss, Harit, Veretout, Kondogbia, Henrique; Aubameyang, Moumbagna

We say: Atalanta BC 2-1 Marseille (Atalanta BC win 3-2 on aggregate)

Given their goalscoring options and impressive home form, Atalanta surely start favourites to progress past Marseille, who can be flaky away from home.

Previews by email

Top News

13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Just over 24 hours after taking over as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has reportedly already been handed his first injury blow. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iraq will welcome Jordan to the Basra International Stadium for Thursday's meeting in the Asian section of 2026 World Cup qualifying. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The action resumes in Group L of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as Burundi and Malawi go head to head at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted his target of reaching 1,000 career goals may be beyond him, as his career begins to wind down, raising questions about whether he could retire in the near future. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Insiders from Premier League clubs have reportedly blamed Thomas Tuchel and the FA for the huge spike in injury withdrawals from the upcoming England squad this month. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liechtenstein will travel to the Ta' Qali National Stadium on Thursday to take on Malta in an international friendly. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi is set to captain Argentina when they travel to Asuncion to face Paraguay in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Thursday night. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Journalist and Arsenal expert Charles Watts cannot see a way back for Premier League referee David Coote if the alleged unverified video of him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp is genuine. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has dropped a hint about his future at the club, with contract talks said to be ongoing between the two parties. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's new manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly been handed an early transfer blow, with Bayern Munich stating that Leroy Sane is not for sale this January. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus with the view of signing the player next summer. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Manchester City enter November's international break in the 2024-25 campaign sitting five points adrift of early leaders Liverpool after 11 matches played. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they have entered the international break on the back of losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time since 2006 and for the first time ever under manager Pep Guardiola. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are not expected to respond to the emergence of an apparently damning video of Premier League referee David Coote in which the official made insulting and derisive comments regarding former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp until the PGMOL complete their investigation into the incident. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will have goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez available for selection again when they face Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as a replacement for Ederson. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Villarreal head coach Marcelino has attempted to play down speculation linking the club with Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Goncalo Guedes. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group B table come together on Thursday afternoon when Kuwait host group-leaders South Korea. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nigeria will hope to secure their spot in the 2025 African Cup of Nations when they face Benin at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil will be without Real Madrid duo Rodrygo and Eder Militao for their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier away in Venezuela on Thursday after both suffered first-half injuries in the win over Osasuna on Saturday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to enter the market for a new centre-back during the January transfer window. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After a promising set of results in October, Brazil return to action in World Cup qualifying when they travel to Maturin to face Venezuela on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to close the gap on the top two places in Group A, Qatar will host second-placed Usbekistan at the Khalifa International Stadium for an AFC World Cup qualifying clash on Thursday afternoon. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal dropped two points rather than gaining one in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but there were signs of the "old" Gunners team in West London. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have been punished for failing to adequately replace their most "important player" Martin Odegaard when the Norwegian was out with an ankle injury, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After making a fine start to their latest UEFA Nations League campaign, just one more point would ensure Italy qualify for the quarter-finals on Thursday, when they visit Belgium in Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium's task will be perfectly clear on Thursday evening, as they must win to stay in contention for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals when welcoming Italy to Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified a Benfica defender as a potential transfer target for 2025. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to return to winning ways following difficult matches during the October international window, Armenia and the Faroe Islands will lock horns in Yerevan for a UEFA Nations League C clash on Thursday night.