Brighton vs Marseille tips and predictions: Goals, corners and chaos at the AMEX Stadium
- George Dempsey
- 13 December 2023
Brighton will play host to Marseille at the AMEX Stadium on Thursday with the winner topping Europa League Group B.
While Brighton were beating AEK Athens 1-0 in Greece, Marseille were beating Ajax 4-3 to maintain their one-point lead at the top of the group.
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang completed a hat trick when he calmly slotted away a 93rd-minute penalty, much like Joao Pedro’s calm finish from the spot that decided Brighton’s game.
Roberto De Zerbi’s men and the Ligue 1 side have matched each other stride for stride since matchday two and Thursday’s clash will decide the group winner.
You’d assume the Premier League side have the upper hand being at home, but Gennaro Gattuso’s side is unbeaten in the group.
Much like their feisty impresario, the Frenchmen won’t go down without a fight. Galatasaray are the only side to have beaten them in 11 Europa League fixtures.
The Seagulls are unbeaten in four in Europe and it’s fair to say they’ve adapted better as the group has progressed. They’ve kept three consecutive clean sheets.
On the other hand, Marseille have shipped six goals against Ajax, a side Brighton comfortably beat home and away.
It was clear to see that De Zerbi had learned some lessons from Brighton’s curtain-raiser at this level and they did a much better job of controlling the game away to AEK.
We’re expecting a better start from the English side than the last meeting but despite their best attempts to control proceedings, Marseille’s style means it may descend into chaos anyway.
Team news
Ansu Fati, Pervis Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey, Julio Enciso, Danny Welbeck, Adam Webster and Solly March are ruled out due to injury.
Joaquin Correa and Valentin Rongier are ruled out for Marseille due to injury.
The French side will field some familiar names including top-scorer Aubameyang, World Cup start Azzedine Ounahi, ex-Sheffield United man Iliman Ndiaye and Radamel Falcao.
Key stats
- Brighton have won three consecutive Europa League games with a clean sheet
- Both teams have scored in 13 of the last 14 games played at the AMEX Stadium
- Marseille are unbeaten in the Europa League this season and in 10 of 11
- Marseille have scored 13 and conceded nine in five group games
- Both teams are averaging over 10 corners per game in the Europa League
