Marseille vs. Atalanta Prediction on May 2, 2024

Match info

Seventh-ranked French Ligue 1 team takes on sixth-ranked Italian Serie A time following successful men’s football UEFA Europa League season 2023–24 for both teams. This Thursday, May 2, at 9 PM local time, Olympique de Marseille and Atalanta BC will square off in the first leg of the second-tier club competition in the “Old Continent” semifinal at the former side’s Stade Vélodrome, and it’s going to be the close one, which is portrayed by the odds set by best mobile bookmakers.

Meeting statistics

The current form of Marseille

Marseille take on Atalanta in the first-ever meeting of the two valid for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa League, hoping to continue their 100% success rate in advancing from UEFA Cup/UEL semifinal matches. In that aspect, the French team is a perfect three from three, but they’ve lost all those finals they progressed despite their best efforts to give themselves another chance to win major European titles for just the second time.

Head coach Jean-Louis Gasset will be aware of the significance of taking the lead in this opening leg, which calls for a performance strong enough to snap Marseille’s seven-game winless record to Italian teams (two draws, five losses). The Stade Vélodrome supporters, who have backed „The Phocaeans“ in seven straight UEL knockout-round home victories and have only seen two losses in the club’s last 18 European games on their home field across all UEFA competitions (plus 12 wins, four draws), are Marseille’s greatest asset.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the UEL’s all-time best scorer, will be the center of attention as he has scored the winning goal in four of his six scoring appearances for Marseille this season.

The current form of Atalanta

All of the above may seem like a difficult challenge for Atalanta, but fear is no option for a team that just defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, giving them the opportunity to eliminate “The Reds“ in the quarterfinals. The Bergamo-based side celebrated reaching only their second-ever European semi-final—the first having occurred way back in the 1987–88 season—despite losing the second leg 0-1 at home.

“ The Goddess“ has won all three of its games since that home loss to Liverpool, and with their squad playing so well, a Gian Piero Gasperini masterclass might be on the horizon. Since they haven’t felt the bitterness of defeat in their last eight UEL away games (five wins, three draws), going on the road seems to significantly boost their chances of success. In their last 16 two-leg UEFA competition ties, Atalanta have only lost the first leg twice (winning six times and drawing eight).

Gianluca Scamacca, who’s playing well right now and was granted a respite over the weekend after contributing to 10 goals (hit the target eight times, assisted twice) in as many games, will be challenging Marseille’s striker Aubameyang for attention.

Head-to-head encounters

This will be the first-ever metting between these two teams.

Match analytics

With so much at stake, we’re sure both teams may want to play it safe. Draw & GG is what we advise punters to play. Powbet offers the odds of 4.20 for this market.

Results of the forecast

Successful forecast. Marseille vs. Atalanta 1:1