Salzburg – Marseille Prediction & Picks (03.05.2018)

On Thursday evening, the Salzburg Bulls are aiming for the next surprise. Already in the quarter-finals, the Austrians lost the first leg with two goals difference, turned the game in the second leg against Lazio but completely around and celebrated with a 4-1 victory in the semi-finals. Salzburg are again facing the wall of Olympique Marseille and have to make up for a 2-0 defeat from the first leg.

The French already know Red Bull Salzburg from the group stage, when l’OM had the second place behind the Austrians in the fall. Salzburg remained unbeaten in the group and conceded only one goal. How to win in Salzburg against l’OM, ​​know the troupe of Marco Rose already. In the fall, Red Bull Salzburg won 1-0. On Thursday, however, it takes at least two goals from Salzburg to have another chance at the final in Lyon. Will Salzburg manage to turn the result in the second leg and are bets worthwhile?

Red Bull Salzburg:

Once again in the Austrian Bundesliga, the bulls are “business as usual”. Four laps to go, the series champion has his fifth title in a row as good as in his pocket. With eleven points clear of Sturm Graz, only one single victory is needed to officially celebrate the championship. Last weekend, the Grazer postponed the decision yet, as they won against Rapid Wien with 4: 2. Salzburg completed the compulsory task at the bottom of the table SKN St. Pölten confidently with a 2-0 victory and thereby spared seven regular players for the second leg against Marseille on Thursday.

While in the domestic league hardly anyone is surprised when Salzburg sweeps over all opponents, the race on European stage is quite unusual. For more than a decade, the Bulls have failed to qualify for the Champions League group stage. In the Europa League, reaching the Round of 16 in the 2013/14 season was the biggest success in an international competition since joining the Red Bull Group. In the current season the way to the semi-final was impressive. After a group stage without defeat against Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes and Konyaspor the Bulls in the following knockout rounds row by line top international teams such as Real Sociedad, Borussia Dortmund and Lazio. The performance in the first leg in Marseille was for the most part difficult in order.

The French got off to a good start in the cauldron Stade Velodrome and took the lead in the 15th minute, but Salzburg kept getting better and better as the match continued, although they did not manage to exploit that opportunity. In addition to a pole shot from substitute Fredrik Gulbrandsen, a clear penalty foul against Stefan Lainer had not been given. In the end, Salzburg had two draws more and also had more possession than the hosts. Coach Marco Rose was particularly in the final stages benefits of his team: “The lead 2: 0 and they will try everything to defend the lead and try with their offensive quality to score a goal. But in Marseille, we already realized that we had clear, physical advantages in the back. Should that help us at some point, we are glad drum. “The last decisive trump should be the audience on Thursday. In the Red Bull Arena Salzburg is unbeaten this season both nationally and internationally.

Marseille:

While Salzburg in the league due to the comfortable advantage can spare already forces, Marseille fights for the qualification for the premier class. The French suffered a setback last weekend when Marseille only drew 1-1 at Angers SCO. With three laps to go, l’OM are now in fourth place, which would not be enough for the premier league, and missed using AS Monaco’s carvers, who also played draws against Amiens SC. With only two points behind the second Olympique Lyon, a thrilling season finish is guaranteed. Coach Rudi Garcia said the scoring after the game against Angers was fair, but at the same time a big disappointment: “The second half was very balanced with good chances on both sides. Both goalkeepers were very good. In the end, the draw is, unfortunately, quite fair. That’s two lost points and a missed chance to get into the top three. ”

Marseille’s way to the semi-finals of the Europa League went to Salzburg after the group stage with Sporting Braga, Athletic Bilbao and RB Leipzig. Striking was the different appearance in away games compared to the home games in the Stade Velodrome. Only against Athletic Bilbao l’OM could celebrate an away win. Against Braga and Leipzig, there were each 0-1 defeats and also in the group stage succeeded no away win. Even over a longer period, Marseille does not have good statistics abroad on the international stage. In the last 35 away games in the Europa League Olympique Marseille could win just eight games. In Europa League home games, l’OM lost only eight games in 36 games.