Brighton vs Marseille predictions: Seagulls to play host to thriller
- Four of Marseille’s five Europa League group games have produced at least four goals
- 12 of Brighton’s competitive games this season have featured four or more goals
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals
Brighton and Marseille have both secured qualification to the next stage of the Europa League, but Thursday’s meeting is crucial if they want to give themselves the best chance of going deep into the competition.
The Seagulls need a win to leapfrog Marseille into top spot which would see them skip the preliminary knockout round, while second place would face one of the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage.
Team news
Brighton’s injury list remains extensive, with Roberto de Zerbi still without the likes of Julio Enciso, Solly March, Pervis Estupinan, Adam Webster, Tariq Lamptey, Danny Welbeck and Ansu Fati.
Marseille have few fitness concerns and only midfielder Valentin Rongier and winger Joaqiun Correa have been ruled out.
The stats
Four of Marseille’s five Europa League group games have produced at least four goals, while 12 of Brighton’s competitive games this season have featured four or more goals.
The reverse fixture of this tie in Marseille ended in a 2-2 draw.
Both teams have scored in four of Marseille’s five Europa League group games and both teams have scored in seven of Brighton’s last nine competitive matches.
Prediction
Marseille hold the advantage heading into matchday six of the Europa League group stages, but with second place already in the bag, Brighton have nothing to lose as they vie for top spot at the Amex Stadium.
Only a win would be enough for the Seagulls to claim first in Group B, so we can expect to see Roberto de Zerbi’s side attack with intent from the outset, and that is something which usually leads to plenty of goals when Brighton are involved.
Twelve of the hosts’ 22 competitive games this season have featured at least four goals and they have seen both teams score in 18 of them.
Marseille are not a side to keep it tight at the back, either. Their thrilling 4-3 win over Ajax in the last round was riddled with defensive errors on both sides and their five group-stage games so far have averaged 4.6 goals-per-game.
Four of these, including the 2-2 draw with Brighton at the Stade Orange Velodrome on matchday two, have produced at least four goals, so backing plenty of goals is the way to go on Thursday.
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