Benfica vs Marseille tips and predictions: Winless woes continue for French visitors
- Sergiu Baltuta
- 9 April 2024
Benfica should seize the initiative when they play host to Marseille in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday (2000 BST).
In the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League, Benfica and Marseille, the two teams with the most finals played without ever clinching a victory, will face off.
The Portuguese side have lost their last eight European finals, including the 1983, 2013 and 2014 Europa League finals.
After beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to claim silverware in the 60s, then manager Bela Guttman left over a pay rise dispute, proclaiming ‘Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion’.
There are only 40 years to go, Eagles fans.
Despite competing in three finals, in 1999, 2004 and 2018, Marseille have yet to lift the trophy.
In the league, both teams have had disappointing seasons. Benfica are second with 67 points, 4 points behind rivals Sporting, who beat them 2-1 at the weekend.
After finishing third behind Inter Milan and Real Sociedad in the Champions League, the Portuguese side have eliminated Toulouse and Rangers.
Sociedad are the last team to win at Estadio da Luz where the hosts are now unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions.
Marseille are eight in Ligue 1, with 39 points, four points behind the European zone, and have suffered four consecutive defeats in all competitions.
The French side finished second ahead of Ajax and AEK Athens to reach the knockout phase of the competition, dispatching Shakhtar Donetsk and Villareal in the previous rounds.
Despite their poor recent form, they were unbeaten at home until PSG came to town and made light work of them despite playing with 10 men.
On the other hand, their away form has been a problem. They’ve been less competitive on the road and have lost six of their previous eight.
