Marseille has a storied history in European tournaments, though they've faced heartbreak in the past. They’ve reached the final of the Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup, three times but lost each one.
After being crowned champions of Europe in 1993, the French club came close to more glory in 1999, 2004, and 2018 but fell short each time. More recently, they were knocked out by Feyenoord in the 2021-22 Europa Conference League semi-finals, but they're determined to rewrite their story this year.
Their journey to this stage hasn't been easy. After struggling with injuries and leaning on academy players, Marseille suffered five consecutive losses. However, they bounced back with a dramatic win against Benfica in the Europa League quarter-finals, advancing through extra time and a tense penalty shootout.
It was a pivotal moment for Jean-Louis Gasset, the club's third manager this season, who stepped in after previous coaches Marcelino and Gennaro Gattuso were dismissed. Gasset has managed to stabilize the team, but the waters are still rough. A recent 2-1 win over Lens marked their first victory in six Ligue 1 games, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pape Gueye scoring crucial goals.
For Marseille, winning the Europa League is not just about the trophy; it’s also a pathway to next season's revamped Champions League. But first, they have to get past Atalanta BC, a team that’s known for its attacking flair and resilience.
Atalanta, meanwhile, has been on a roll, especially at home. They've won their last five UEFA home games, which makes getting a strong start in Marseille crucial before the second leg in Bergamo. Their 2-0 victory over Empoli, thanks to a Mario Pasalic penalty and an Ademola Lookman goal, underscores their strength, particularly at home.
However, they're no pushovers on the road either, having gone unbeaten in their last nine European away games. This track record includes a stunning 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in the quarter-finals, proving they can handle pressure in hostile environments.
After a mid-season slump, Atalanta has regained momentum since defeating Sporting CP in the last 16. They recently secured a place in the Coppa Italia final and are pushing for a Champions League spot in Serie A, where they sit sixth with five games left. Italian football has secured five spots in next season's Champions League, partly due to Atalanta and Roma's performances in the Europa League, which boosted Italy's UEFA coefficient.
Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta's manager, has taken the team to new heights, but leading them to their first-ever European final would be his greatest achievement. The club's most significant honor to date is the 1963 Coppa Italia, and they’ve only reached the semi-finals of a UEFA competition once before.
If they can overcome Marseille, there's a chance they could face Roma in the final, with both teams eyeing that fifth Champions League spot in Serie A. However, Marseille stands as a formidable barrier to these ambitions, promising a thrilling semi-final showdown.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Quarter-final hero Faris Moumbagna is back from suspension and ready to play against Atalanta, having missed the game against Lens due to a red card. In his absence, Iliman Ndiaye took his spot in the starting lineup. However, Marseille will be without centre-back Samuel Gigot, who’s serving a one-match UEFA ban, which could impact their defensive solidity.Adding to Marseille's defensive worries, Chancel Mbemba has been sidelined with a knee injury, and he won't be back for a few weeks. Jean-Louis Gasset, the team's coach, has a growing list of players unavailable for Thursday's clash. Quentin Merlin (ankle) and Ismaila Sarr (hamstring) are still out, along with Bamo Meite and Valentin Rongier, who are done for the season due to long-term injuries.
Despite these setbacks, Marseille still has some firepower. Jonathan Clauss and Amine Harit, the Europa League's top assist providers, are expected to play pivotal roles, having each recorded six assists in the competition so far. And then there's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who’s both the Europa League’s all-time top scorer and its leading scorer this season, with 10 goals to his name.
On the Atalanta side, Gianluca Scamacca has been their top scorer in Europe this season with five goals. He recently shined in their Coppa Italia semi-final victory over Fiorentina and will be competing for a starting role with Charles De Ketelaere, Ademola Lookman, and El Bilal Toure.
Atalanta also has a key player suspended for the first leg: Isak Hien. His absence opens the door for Sead Kolasinac to take his place in Gian Piero Gasperini's defensive back three. Giorgio Scalvini, who’s back from a hamstring injury, returned to the lineup last weekend and should also be a part of Atalanta’s defense. However, they’re still missing Emil Holm and Rafael Toloi, which could affect their depth in defense.
Both teams have some big names on the sidelines, but they also have plenty of firepower to make this a compelling semi-final clash.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Marseille possible starting lineup:Lopez; Murillo, Gueye, Balerdi; Clauss, Harit, Veretout, Kondogbia, Garcia; Aubameyang, Moumbagna
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Scalvini, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners, Lookman; Scamacca
EXPERT PREDICTION
Marseille 2-2 Atalanta
They have enough firepower to get a goal or two, and I expect them to head back to Lombardy with a tie game, keeping the second leg wide open.
