Marseille vs Atalanta predictions: Velodrome rivals look tough to split
- Marseille have lost just one of 23 home matches in all competitions this season
- Atalanta are unbeaten in their last nine away European fixtures
- Recommended bet: Draw & both teams to score
Atalanta stunned Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and they face more European royalty in the form of Marseille this week.
This semi-final tie is another mouthwatering contest, with the first leg set to take place at Marseille's Stade Velodrome on Thursday.
The winners will play either Roma or Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin on May 22 but there is sure to be plenty of twists and turns before then, with both matches having the potential to swing either way.
Marseille are narrow 7/5 favourites to win on home soil on Thursday, while Atalanta are 7/4 to take an advantage back to Italy for next week's second leg.
Team news
Faris Moumbagna returns from suspension for OM, who must do without centre-back Samuel Gigot as he serves his own one-match ban.
Chancel Mbemba is out with a knee injury and he joins Quentin Merlin, Ismaila Sarr, Bamo Meite and Valentin Rongier on the sidelines.
Atalanta central defender Isak Hien is banned, while Emil Holm and Rafael Toloi will miss out through injury.
The stats
- Five of Marseille's last six matches have seen both teams score
- Atalanta are unbeaten in their last nine away European fixtures
- Marseille have lost just one of 23 home matches in all competitions this season, going down 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain
- Marseille have won seven of 24 games against Italian opposition
Prediction
Atalanta have already seen off Sporting Lisbon and Liverpool in this season's Europa League and they will fancy their chances of toppling French giants Marseille over two legs.
However, Les Phoceens are a tough nut to crack on home soil, so the best option may be to back a draw in which both teams get on the scoresheet.
OM have lost just once in 23 home matches this season but Atalanta are a force to be reckoned with too, as Liverpool found to their cost in a shock 3-0 hammering at Anfield last month.
The Reds recovered to win 1-0 back in Bergamo, but the damage was done and wily head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be more than happy to return home to the Gewiss Stadium with the tie all-square.
Marseille have a poor record against Italian sides, winning just seven of 24 matches, but they come into the first leg on the back of a four-match unbeaten run, including a 1-0 win over Benfica.
Atalanta are also in decent shape having won their last three matches in all competitions, so it looks sensible to back a draw on Thursday in what should be an enthralling encounter in the south of France.
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