Football/Europa League: Olympique de Marseille qualified
On Thursday 30 November, Olympique de Marseille hosts Ajax Amsterdam at the Stade Vélodrome for Day 5 of the Europa League. In very good position, the Phocaeans could secure a qualification for the rest of the competition by obtaining a good result against the Dutch.
Disappointing 12th in Ligue 1, Olympique de Marseille remains on two matches without victory in the league (against Lens and Strasbourg), but can still dream on the European scene since it has its full destiny in the hands.
With eight points in the space of four Europa League games, Gennaro Gattuso’s men are currently leaders of Group B. Si Brighton, second in the pool with seven points, closely follows the Phocaeans, AEK Athens (4 points) and Ajax Amsterdam (2 points) are lagging behind. A godsend for OM.
Marseille welcome Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday while Brighton moves to Athens. A victory for Marseille combined with a draw or a defeat for the Seagulls on Day 5 would officially guarantee the group’s first place at OM.
Jonathan Clauss and his partners would thus remove a beautiful thorn from their feet. By qualifying directly for the 8th, they would avoid a team donated from the Champions League.
If OM wins against Ajax, regardless of Brighton’s result on the AEK pitch, Marseille would be guaranteed to finish at least second in their group. They would thus qualify for the 16th of the competition and would certainly face a big team.
