OM dreams of its epic, despite the first leg defeat against Benfica

Beaten by a goal in the first leg (2-1), the Marseillais host Benfica in the quarter-final second leg of the Europa League, Thursday, at the Vélodrome.

As is often the case at this time of year, the mistral blows rather strongly on Thursday April 18 in the Marseille city. But the Marseille standards will not need him to fly high, as Olympique de Marseille hosts Benfica in the quarter-final second leg of the Europa League, at 9 p.m. Indeed, despite the defeat (2-1) in the first leg, the fifth in a row in all competitions, it is indeed a wind of hope that perfumes the Old Port.

In a sold-out Vélodrome stadium – 65,000 supporters officially, but probably not far from 75,000 in reality – Jean-Louis Gasset’s players will try to reverse the situation against Angel Di Maria’s Benfica. And if the Phocaeans came close to sinking on the first leg, they are approaching this return leg with a paradoxical confidence, but not unfounded. “Despite the defeat, it’s a rather positive result”assured Geoffrey Kondogbia hotly after the first leg.

43% chance of qualification

A few minutes earlier, the Lisbon public had just jeered at their team, despite their victory. Another paradox which confirms that, despite the first leg, the outcome of this Europa League quarter-final is still far from being known. After having outclassed OM for an hour, Benfica showed a completely different face, much more nervous and fragile, against the Phocaeans invigorated by the goal of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (67th). The starting point of the crazy European hope of the Marseillais.

“We stayed in these thirty minutes where everything could have gone wrong, but we want to believe. We deserved to keep hope, to still be alive. We put them under pressure for thirty minutes, they doubted , were whistled, it’s very encouraging for us”noted Jean-Louis Gasset on Wednesday, before summarizing: “If we attack like we finished, we’ll do what we need to do.” Especially since OM have already done it in recent weeks on the European scene, by torpedoing Shakhtar Donetsk (3-1) and Villarreal (4-0) on their lawn.

Another reason for hope for the Marseillais: figures and history. Thus, in 18 matches, no French club has won on Benfica’s pitch in the European Cup, not even PSG (five draws, 13 defeats). This figure puts the first leg into perspective, at the end of which OM has a 43% chance of qualifying, according to precedents in the European Cup. Qualifying after a first-leg defeat, the Marseillais have already done so five times out of 18 previous matches on the continental scene. At the Vélodrome, no one has forgotten the latest example, in 2018, against Leipzig (0-1, 5-2).

An impregnable Velodrome

To repeat the performance, OM will be able to count on its den and its people. When it’s sold out, the Vélodrome will inevitably be volcanic. “The stadium is going to be on fire, but we must bring this audience with us through our attitude, our conviction, our efficiency”, warned Jean-Louis Gasset. And for good reason, this season, OM are uncompromising on their lawn, with only one defeat in Ligue 1, against PSG (0-2), and none in the Europa League in eight outings.

This season, OM are struggling away from home (worst away team in Ligue 1). In this respect, returning from Lisbon, where Benfica excels at home, with only one goal behind is almost a good result. Especially since Benfica does not travel as well as it receives, like its round of 16 match in Toulouse on February 22 (0-0). “They play a lot inside, with very dangerous attacking midfielders. Di Maria’s left foot is a key, especially on set pieces and in passes”is also wary of Leonardo Balerdi, Argentinian defender of OM.

“It’s defensive security that we need to work on. The aspect to fear is the quality of Benfica’s offensive players, if we’re not on the mark when we lose the ball. We need to play a perfect match , be efficient in front and attentive, aggressive when we lose the ball.”

Jean-Louis Gasset, OM coach

at a press conference

Deprived of his two starting full-backs (Quentin Merlin and Jonathan Clauss), Jean-Louis Gasset knows that the work is behind him. Offensively, the machinery is well oiled for the Phocéens, second attack in the competition before these quarter-finals, with 24 goals, behind Liverpool (28). With 10 goals in the Europa League, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a lot to do with it, having become Marseille’s top scorer in one season in the European Cup, ahead of Didier Drogba.

A total which could rise further, since Benfica is the Gabonese’s favorite prey on the European scene (6 goals). It would only take one more to allow OM to snatch extra time, while a victory by two goals would qualify them for the semi-finals of the Europa League. On paper, this scenario is therefore entirely possible.

This is what Jean-Louis Gasset has strived to hammer home since the end of the first leg: “I feel the players are aware of the match we have to play, aware that we have already done it. We are focused, but aware that we are a goal behind against a quarter-finalist of the last Champions League Benfica is a big club, which is used to this kind of meeting.” A big club which, like OM, is counting on this Europa League to save its season, and which will be supported by 2,500 supporters on Thursday, in the Vélodrome volcano.