Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Welcome to our Villarreal vs Marseille prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview as Ligue 1 side Marseille travel to Spain with a huge 4-0 advantage after they obliterated Villarreal at the Velodrome in the Europa League first leg..

It looks like Marcelino won’t be gaining revenge on his former club but surely the Yellow Submarine must show some fight here? Soccer expert Steve Wyss previews the second leg bringing you the best betting angles in. Our Villarreal vs Marseille prediction is for Villarreal to win the match 3-1.

1. Villarreal vs Marseille Tip 1: Over 1.25 Asian Goals First Half
2. Villarreal vs Marseille Tip 2: Over 3 Asian Goals
3. Villarreal vs Marseille Tip 3: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Score Anytime

Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction 1: Villarreal need to get out of the traps quickly in open first half

UEFA Europa League, Thursday 14th March,  17:45 (UK)

The chances of Villarreal qualifying for the quarter-finals are now very slim after they got smashed 4-0 in the first leg. Wild comebacks can occasionally happen, and if they are to have any sniff of a recovery, then I think they have to come out of the traps really fast. This isn’t a match that the Spanish side can afford to feel their way into slowly, and they simply must start on the front foot straight away. I think we could see a really fast-paced, high-tempo first half and a potential basketball-type of match that is very end-to-end.

The over 1.25 Asian goal line in the first catches my eye because the chances of this being 0-0 at the interval look slim. Villarreal have to get on the board to give their fans something to cheer about but it’s equally possible that Marseille will catch them out on the break.

If the match slows down, then it’s more likely to happen in the last 20-25 mins if it’s obvious the tie is over. Whilst things are still somewhat alive, they could be quite pulsating. If exactly one goal in the first half is scored then we will get a half loss, but I think these odds look juicy because something like 2-1 or 1-1 is very possible in the opening 45 mins.

• Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction 1: Over 1.25 First Half Asian Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction 2: Goals should flow again considering the game state of the tie

When we consider the match overall, then taking over 3 Asian Goals is a percentage bet based on the state of the tie. Villarreal must score a minimum of four goals to have any chance of progressing, which is a pretty good reason to look towards the overs. I mentioned in last week’s preview that matches involving the Yellow Submarine averaged close to 3.50 goals per game since Marcelino took charge. Since then, they lost 0-4 at the Velodrome and then beat Betis 3-2 at the weekend. One thing you are guaranteed to get with Villarreal is excitement and they have goals in them.

Marseille have a four goal advantage and could be forgiven if they adopt a more safe approach here. But I expect Villarreal to swing so hard that Marseille will naturally get chances on the break and the odds are they will take at least one opportunity.

They seemed hell-bent on embarrassing their former manager last week, and I fully expect them to twist the knife even more if they can do so in this second leg. Villarreal won’t go down without a fight, and you have to think that there are a minimum of three goals in this game, one way or another. The only concern is if Marseille raced into a 2-0 lead, and the tie is then effectively finished. A more likely and realistic option is something like a 3-1 home win or a 2-2 draw.

• Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction 2: Over 3 Asian Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.87
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction 3: Aubameyang huge value to continue scoring streak

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivered for us in the first leg, scoring anytime at odds of 2.40, and I think he is worth backing again. Auba has enjoyed a huge rebound campaign at Marseille, and he’s netted 23 goals in all competitions so far this year.

The Gabon international scored a brace in the first leg and another two goals vs Nantes at the weekend. He’s been especially strong in the Europa League, where he’s scored nine goals in 8 games! That includes a hat trick against Ajax, and he also netted in each leg against Shakhtar in the previous round.

This is clearly a competition he enjoys. He relished being in the spotlight last week and couldn’t be any higher on confidence. There is no reason to suddenly desert him because Villarreal might take so many risks that he gets ample opportunity to deliver.

His price has only gone up because Marseille are away from home but you could argue he actually has an even better chance of scoring here. At odds of 2.60 to score anytime then this is a no-brainer selection and this man simply must be backed whilst he’s so red hot.

• Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction 3: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Score Anytime (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.60
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Villarreal vs Marseille Prediction odds via bet365 as at 10:00, March 11th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Villarreal vs Marseille Team News and Possible Lineups: Marseille to stick with winning formula

Villarreal defender Alberto Moreno is suspended after getting sent off in the first leg but he was only a substitute so probably wouldn’t have started anyway. They have injuries to the likes of captain Raul Albiol and defender Alfonso Pedraza.

Marseille have no reason to change a winning formula and they have no new injuries or suspensions.

Villearreal possible starting lineup: Jorgensen, Mandi, Bailly, Kiko, Mosquera, Baena, Comesana, Coquelin, Parejo, Moreno, Sorloth

Marseille possible starting lineup: Lopez, Merlin, Balerdi, Mbemba, Clauss, Harit, Kondogbia, Veretout, Sarr, Ndiaye, Aubameyang

Match Stats: Gasset impressing

• Villarreal lost the first leg against Marseille 4-0, the first time they’d shipped four goals in a major European  match since losing 4-0 to Roma in February 2017. No side in UEFA Europa League history has overturned a  4+ goal first leg deficit in a two-legged knockout match.
• Marseille have scored 23 goals in nine UEFA Europa League matches this season, their most ever in a  single major European season. The last French side to score more in Europe in a season were Paris Saint Germain in 2019-20 (25 in the UEFA Champions League).
• Villarreal manager Marcelino left Marseille after just seven games earlier this season. Their fixtures average nearly 3.50 goals per game since the former Marseille man took over.
• New Marseille manager Jean-Louis Gasset has won all five matches so far with an 18-3 goal differential.

Villarreal Fixtures: Rough March

• Vs Valencia (H)
• Vs Atletico Madrid (H)
• Vs Ath Bilbao (A)
• Vs Almeria (A)
• Vs Rayo Vallecano (H)

Marseille Fixtures: Tough run of games coming up for OM

• Vs Rennes (A)
• Vs PSG (H)
• Vs Lille (A)
• Vs Nice (H)
• Vs Toulouse  (A)

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