Fenerbahce V Marseille – 20 September 2012 (UEFA Europa League)

Plucky Marseille interesting at the odds

Europa League Tips

Fenerbahce V Marseille – Thursday, 20 September 2012 (Kick-Off: 18:00)

Betting Selection: Marseille to WIN @ 13/5 with StanJames

Value Punt: 1-0 Marseille (Correct Score) @ 8/1 with Bet365

 

An intriguing clash is this between two teams who have made solid and spectacular starts in their leagues respectively, with Fenerbahce – back from an imposed European suspension placed on them last season by their own Turkish Federation for alleged match-fixing – playing host to Marseille in the Turkish capital of Istanbul.

The new domestic campaigns are still young but already these two clubs find themselves sitting prominently in the leagues. Fenerbahce have opened their accounts with a four-game unbeaten run and sit fourth, although they have been fortunate at times without playing anyone of note. Their host of new names, including former Premier League stars Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt, have yet to really bed in and as of yet the team hasn’t really hit the heights expected of them. It will take time, of course.

However, last weekend saw the 2010-11 Turkish national champions scrape a win at home to relegation favourites Mersin, with Brazilian Cristian Baroni netting the winner in a 2-1 victory in the 89 minute. Unconvincing to say the least. Nonetheless, Fenerbahce will take some beating in their own backyard – where Turkish teams are so often formidable, especially those which reside in Istanbul – despite having not won a home fixture in Europe in their last five attempts.

Any visiting team wishing to leave Turkey with a positive outcome must have a resilient, steely approach to their game, not to mention an abundance of courage and pluck, because mental fortitude is certainly needed in such intimidating surroundings. This Marseille team may well boast just those qualities.

Massively disappointing last season as they finished way down in 10th in Ligue 1, Marseille have responded to that shocking blip – having finished second the season after their capture of the 2010-11 title – by beginning the new term in a flawless manner. Five games down, five victories on the board. Eight goals scored, just the one conceded. And what’s more, it is now three successive 1-0 away triumphs following Sunday’s hard fought win over Nancy.

So far, and while it remains early days, Marseille have shown enormous amounts of character on their travels so far this season. Granted they haven’t been mind-blowing, but they sure as heck have been clinical. Coach Elle Baup has converted L’OM into a strong, resolute outfit all round but especially at the back, where last term’s French Cup winners will need to be alert throughout on Thursday if they’re to walk away from a very tricky encounter on paper with a very positive outcome.

Home advantage could play a huge part in determining the outcome of this contest; however, Marseille boast all the momentum and should exude confidence and self-belief following their terrific start to the new campaign. They’re a well balance side boasting strong, powerful defenders who are complimented by quick, nippy attackers. Plus, they head over to Turkey unbeaten in their last seven away UEFA Cup/Europa League matches. Yet another impressive streak they’ll be eager to maintain.

The 13/5 on offer for an away win appears mighty alluring to me. Too alluring in fact. Remember, this Marseille side bettered the point returns of both Borussia Dortmund and Olympicos to finish one point behind Arsenal in Group F of last year’s Champions League, where they reached the quarter-finals after eliminating Inter Milan in the Round of 16 on away goals before succumbing to eventual finalists Bayern Munch 4-0 on aggregate.

Could yet another marginal away success be on the cards for Olympique de Marseille?

 

Match Pointers

  • Suspended from continental competitions in 2011-12, Fenerbahce dropped into this season’s Europa League following a 3-2 aggregate loss to Spartak Moscow in the Champions League play-offs.
  • The Turkish club finished a distant second in their domestic league last term and, following an unbeaten four-game start containing two home wins and two away draws, are currently sat fourth in the new campaign.
  • Fenerbahce have failed to win any of their previous five UEFA matches at home (W0 D4 L1).
  • 2009-10 French Ligue 1 title winners Marseille ended the previous league term way down in 10th, qualifying for Europe by virtue of their capture of the Coupe de la Ligue.
  • This season, however, Marseille have been immaculate, registering maximum points from their five league fixtures thus far in which they’ve plundered a relatively average total of 8 goals but did concede just the once.
  • Away from home, L’OM have won all three Ligue 1 games 1-0 this season; in Europe, meanwhile, they are unbeaten in seven UEFA Cup/Europa League contests on the road and progressed as far as the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League.