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Ath Bilbao vs Marseille Prediction & Betting tips
After a preliminary decision has been made in the few first knockout matches of last week, we expect an exciting European Cup evening on Thursday (15.03., 19:00 clock). So even Olympique Marseille can not be sure of his case, after all, the French let in the first leg of a away goal from Athletic Bilbao. So even with the Spaniards despite the 1: 3 defeat still justified hope to equalize the result of last Thursday. However, Bilbao has played at best an average season and was able to convince even before his own fans in the Estadio San Mamés last only rarely. Quite different is Marseille, who in Ligue 1 even play for one of the coveted Champions League places. The French will have to invest a bit more than last time against Sporting Braga and do everything they can to prevent the Spaniards from winning the first leg. We therefore recommend a secured tip on a draw. So there is in the case of an away win at least the stake back.
Athletic Bilbao:
Athletic Bilbao play a relatively successful season internationally and could win the group J, in which also Östersunds FK, Sorja Luhansk and Hertha BSC were represented, with a 3-2-1 balance, a goal difference of 8: 5 and eleven points. In the 1/16 finals, the Spaniards then met the Russian champions and Champions League relegated Spartak Moscow. Somewhat lucky, the team from coach Jose Ziganda won the first leg 3-1 in Moscow, which may have been due to the winter break in Russia that lasted until the beginning of March. As a result, Athletic could even afford a 2-1 defeat in the second leg to move to the last sixteen. Should Bilbao not bring a significant increase in performance in the upcoming second leg, the rise to the next round should remain a mere illusion.
Pure illusion remains probably the re-qualification for the upcoming European Cup season. Because in La Liga, the Ziganda Elf is currently in an 8-11-9 balance, a goal difference of 29:31 and 35 points only in twelfth place. The gap to sixth place, which would at least entitle them to qualify for the Europa League, is already a whopping nine points. That this could change something, is not to be expected in the current form. Even in home games Bilbao could win only three of the last ten games, including the dress rehearsal last weekend against CD Leganés. Of the remaining two were lost and five ended with a draw.
Marseille:
Olympique Marseille were involved in the group stage with RB Salzburg, Konyaspor and Vitória Guimarães and reached with a 2-2-2 balance, a goal difference of 4: 4 and eight points second place. In the 1/16 finals, it was against Sporting Braga, where the team of coach Rudi Garcia was able to ensure a clear victory in the first leg in front of their home crowd with a well-deserved 3-0 victory. Accordingly, Marseille was able to take it slow in the second leg and the controlled 0: 1 defeat easily cope. Things will not be that easy on Thursday, as Athletic’s chances would be increased by conceding a goal. Accordingly, Olympique will have to go to work.
Also in Ligue 1 Marseille is currently one of the winners. After all, the Garcia-Elf is with a 17-8-4 balance, a goal difference of 59:34 and 59 points in third place, which would entitle to participate in qualifying for the Champions League. The advantage over the next pursuer is currently already five points, which would also be enough to cope with a defeat. Of these, there were three away from home in the last three, before in the dress rehearsal last weekend, a 2-0 victory was retracted in Toulouse (Away balance: 5-1-4). Two of these three defeats before Olympique conceded against the industry leader Paris Saint-Germain (each 0-3 in the league and in the cup) and can therefore be safely hidden. The 1-0 loss to Braga was certainly calculated in terms of the first leg result.
Ath Bilbao vs Marseille head to head matches
08.03.18 EL Marseille Ath Bilbao 3 : 1
25.02.16 EL Ath Bilbao Marseille 1 : 1
18.02.16 EL Marseille Ath Bilbao 0 : 1