Marseille will host Shakhtar Donetsk at Stade Velodrome on Thursday for the second leg of this knockout Europa League clash, with the match poised at 2-2. The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 GMT.
Key Highlights
Marseille Looking to Change their Poor Domestic Form
Marseille are winless in the last five matches in Ligue 1. They have drawn three times and lost twice, dropping the table to 9th place, nine points behind third-place Nice.
They warmed up for the home clash against Shakhtar Donetsk with a 1-0 loss away to Brest, who had a man sent off in the 60th minute, playing 30 minutes with 1o men.
The focus for Marseille will be to build their confidence from a positive showing in their first clash against Shakhtar, which ended in a 2-2 draw. A repeat of the form and fight they showed, with a tightened defensive showing will stand them in good stead.
Shakhtar Donetsk Looking to Tighten their Defense Away from Home
Shakhtar conceded two goals in the first leg, while scoring twice in the process. Their potency in the final third will be encouraging as they approach the clash against Marseille away from home.
However, there is a need for Shakhtar to adapt their shape and approach in the away leg to ensure that they are defensively sound and minimize the number of chances they concede against Marseille.
Bet hereA pragmatic and tactical approach will see Shakhtar Donetsk play with a low block and rely on transition and counterattacks to create chances and pose an attacking danger.
Head-to-Head Statistics
Marseille and Shakhtar Donetsk have met three times since 2009. Marseille have not won a single match, with Shakhtar winning twice and the other ending in a draw.
Injury Report
Neither side have reported fresh injury worries ahead of their clash on Thursday.
Prediction
Neither sides have not shown significant improvements in form since their first leg, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Marseille will have the advantage of the Stade Velodrome on Thursday.
The two sides will fight to a draw in normal time.
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