Marseille v Atletico Predictions & Betting Odds, 16th May 2018
It is all eyes on Lyon on Wednesday night for the UEFA Europa League final. Atletico Madrid go into the final as the favourites to get their hands on the title. They will be taking on French side Marseille for the silverware. Marseille have shown plenty of attacking power through the tournament so far this season but will they be able to crack the tough defence that the Spaniards will bring the show?
Marseille News and Form
It has been a great season from Marseille on home soil in European competition. They have won eight of the nine home European games but away from their own stadium they have only managed the one victory. During the group stage Marseille ended up in second place behind Austrian side Salzburg. During the knockout stage of the competition this season Marseille had to rely on their scoring power to progress. The scoring at home really was a key factor for them as they had to battle their way past Athletic Bilbao and then RB Leipzig in the quarter-finals. In the semi finals they were back up against Salzburg and once again had to rely on their attack to cover up for defensive weaknesses. Marseille have been to two previous UEFA cup finals in 1998/99 and 2003/04 but lost both of them though. This is the first time in four Europa league campaigns that they have made it through to the final. Prior to this season they hadn’t been beyond the round of 32 in the Europa league.
Marseille have played 15 previous matches against Spanish opposition and the record from those is not great losing eight of those. During the round of 16 they did get back-to-back wins over Bilbao though. Of those eight previous defeats against Spanish sides one of them was in the 2004 UEFA cup final against Valencia. Marseille have suffered just one defeat in their last six games in all competitions for their current form and on the weekend played out a 3-3 draw in league action. They have produced a lot going forward but their defence does raise a question or two about their chances of winning the final. Finals are usually cagey tight affairs and under 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 5/4 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 6:58 p.m. on May 15th, 2018). The two key men for Marseille is former West Ham man Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin. It’s been a good season for Marseille both on the domestic front and in Europe can they become the first ever French side to win the Europa league?
Atletico News and Form
Atletico Madrid will be favourites heading into the big kick-off on Wednesday night. It’s been another strong season from them as they have a chance to secure second place in the Spanish top-flight on the weekend as well as being in the final of the Europa League. Atletico have won the Europa league twice before in 2010 and in 2012 and current boss Diego Simeone was the manager for both of those titles. Overall Atletico have been to 8 previous major UEFA competition finals winning just three of those. This season’s European campaign for them started in the UEFA Champions League group stage but they were beaten out by Roma and Chelsea and therefore had to switch over to the UEFA Europa League. They immediately came out strong and powered their way through the knockout stages really setting themselves up as favourites to go on and win the title. They are just 90 minutes from doing that now. Atletico netted 17 goals in total across their eight knockout stage games. Given that Atletico are well-known for their defence in the bet365 correct score market an Atletico 1-0 option is at 9/2 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 6:58 p.m. on May 15th, 2018).
Atletico’s record in Europe this season is W14 D5 L2. They only lost once away from Madrid which was in one-nil defeat in Lisbon against Sporting. Atletico have played 12 previous matches against French opposition and have done well in the head-to-head from those matches posting a record of W6 D5 L1. Atletico did have a bit of a stumble with their form towards the end of the season, but they’ve just started to pick up again with three wins in their last four games in all competitions. Atletico pride themselves in having Europe’s tightest defence and that is the real strength so Atletico to win two nil at bet365 is at 6/4 odds (Betting Odds taken at 6:58 p.m. on May 15th, 2018). Given that Marseille have only scored three goals in their last nine Europa league away games (90 min) then that betting option does carry some weight. Striker Antoine Griezmann has scored 19 goals in his last 22 games and the Spaniards looks if they have the quality and strength in depth together hands on the silverware making it three wins from three in Europa league finals.
Marseille v Atletico Head to Head
Marseille and Atletico have only met for two previous games which were in the 2008/09 UEFA champions league group stage. Atletico got a home victory over the French side before playing out a goalless draw back in France.
Marseille v Atletico Betting Odds*
Atletico Madrid 3/4, Draw 13/5, Marseille 19/4* (Betting Odds taken at 6:58 p.m. on May 15th, 2018)
Marseille v Atletico Predictions
Marseille have done a great job this season both in their domestic league and in Europe. But getting the better of such a tough Atletico side may just be a bridge too far for them. They have shown a lot of attacking power their defence has gotten into trouble quite a few times and they may not be able to get themselves out this time against Atletico’s defence. Atletico to win to nil looks good value.
