Marseille FC and Panathinaikos are now on their way to the Leg 1 of their third qualifying round, as they look to have an advantage going to the Champions League. Both teams are aiming to win the first leg for an easier journey to the Champions League. Marseille now begins their quest for the spot, against Panathinaikos, who qualified after a 5-3 win against Dnipro-1. Coming into this match, one of Marseille‘s greatest advantage is their attacks, where they improved significantly. As for Panathinaikos, their biggest advantage here is their momentum, especially now that they are from a dominating win. This meeting will be on August 10, 2023, at 2:00 AM (GMT+8), with Panathinaikos playing as hosts.
This is the first time that these two teams will meet each other for the first time, so there is a sense of unfamiliarity between them. However, when it comes to meeting a French squad, the hosts are no longer new to that. Unfortunately, from the 11 times they met such teams, they only recorded three wins. As for the visitors, they already had 10 meetings against a German squad across all contests. Their results are the complete opposite of their opponent, as they have won seven times against such opponents. Moreover, when it comes to this game’s format, both teams does not have an advantage, considering their results.
Marseille FC
Marseille have gained experience in the Champions League over the past seasons, including the last season. However, during that season, Marseille failed to escape the group stage, failing to make it to the knockout stage. They finished as the fourth in their group stage, which eliminated them from the contest. In addition, they also failed to qualify for the knockout round of the Europa League knockout round playoffs. As the new season starts, this is their first competitive match this season, and they are hoping to get an advantage here. A win in this match would bring Marseille a step closer to their aims of qualifying once again in the Champions League. They need some adjustments though, as their last friendly match ended in a 2-1 loss.
Marseille are looking to give a chance for their newcomers for this match, following the moves they made during the transfer window. Moreover, Ndiaye is a doubt here after suffering a calf problem an hour before the start of their last match.
Panathinaikos
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos is a team who stormed their way to the third round of the qualifying round. They finished the second round defeating Dnipro-1, in a 5-3 win on aggregate. They are fortunate that they have come this far in the contest, despite returning after years. Coming into this match, Panathinaikos are hoping to qualify in the group stage for the first time since 2010-11 campaign. However, if they want to do so, they need to address their issues, as they are going against a powerhouse team. Last season, they were also able to reach the third round of the contest, but were eliminated by Slavia Prague. They last qualified in a European contest in the Europa League during the 2016-17 season, which made them eager to have an advantage.
No fitness concerns for Panathinaikos, so they will be confident coming into this match. However, Sebastian Palacios is in contest with Daniel Mancini and Benjamin Verbic to keep his place on the right.
Prediction:
Marseille FC (1.5)
Odds: -0.82
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