Marseille took control of Group B after successive draws with Brighton & Hove Albion and Ajax, followed by back-to-back wins against AEK Athens with a 5-1 aggregate score. However, their recent performances in Ligue 1 have been less impressive, dropping points in away fixtures against Lens and Strasbourg.
Despite rescuing a point against Strasbourg, Les Gones' wastefulness in attack has led to a winless streak of four matches in Ligue 1, placing them 12th in the table.
Marseille looks forward to returning to the Stade Velodrome, where they remain unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions. A victory against Ajax, whom they beat 2-1 in their last home meeting in March 2009, would secure their spot in the Europa League knockout rounds.
Ajax, facing a disappointing season, is on the brink of exiting the Europa League group stage after failing to win any of their first four matches. Drawn matches with Marseille and AEK Athens were followed by consecutive 2-0 losses to Brighton, leaving Ajax at the bottom of Group B, five points behind second-placed Brighton.
Interim boss John van 't Schip acknowledges the importance of securing maximum points against Marseille to maintain any chance of finishing in the top two or at least securing third place for the Europa Conference League playoffs.
Van 't Schip has stabilized Ajax since taking charge, winning three of his first five games, including a 5-0 home victory against Vitesse. However, they face a significant points gap in the Eredivisie, trailing leaders PSV Eindhoven by 24 points.
Despite Ajax's recent struggles in European fixtures and away matches, they have won their last two visits to France, defeating Lille on both occasions, providing some optimism for the upcoming clash with Marseille.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Marseille's primary injury concern centers around midfielder Valentin Rongier, who faces an extended period on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery. Additionally, Pape Gueye continues to serve a FIFA-imposed suspension.Azzedine Ounahi, recovering from an injury, made a second-half appearance in the recent draw with Strasbourg. The Moroccan midfielder is likely to be in contention for Thursday's match, although Jordan Veretout and Geoffrey Kondogbia are expected to once again form the midfield partnership.
In terms of key players, right-back Clauss and versatile attacker Amine Harit have been influential, providing three assists each in the Europa League this season. They rank just behind Florian Wirtz and James Ward-Prowse, who have both registered four assists. Both Clauss and Harit are anticipated to retain their spots in the starting lineup. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored two goals against Ajax in the previous encounter, is also set to feature prominently.
On the Ajax side, Branco van den Boomen is unavailable until January due to a knee injury. Brian Brobbey, dealing with an illness, along with Sivert Mannsverk (leg), Jay Gorter, and Amourricho van Axel Dongen (both with unspecified issues) will undergo assessments before kickoff.
Josip Sutalo is uncertain for the upcoming match, having missed the recent win over Vitesse due to a knock. However, there is a possibility he could return on Thursday, potentially partnering with 17-year-old Jorrel Hato at center-back, allowing Devyne Rensch to shift to right-back.
Chuba Akpom, who is yet to score in four substitute appearances in the Europa League this season, has been in good form in the Eredivisie, finding the net five times in his last four games. The former Middlesbrough striker is expected to start upfront if Brian Brobbey is not deemed fit for the upcoming fixture.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Marseille possible starting lineup:Lopez; Clauss, Mbemba, Balerdi, Lodi; Veretout, Kondogbia; Ndiaye, Harit, Sarr; Aubameyang
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Ramaj; Rensch, Sutalo, Hato, Sosa; Tahirovic, Taylor; Berghuis, Hlynsson, Bergwijn; Akpom
EXPERT PREDICTION
Marseille 3-2 Ajax
While both teams have had inconsistent spells of form lately, Marseille has shown resilience at home, and Ajax has struggled on their away ventures. Considering these factors, it seems likely that the hosts will emerge victorious, securing their spot in the Europa League knockout rounds and simultaneously eliminating their Dutch counterparts from the competition.
