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Basel have won three of four two-legged ties against French opposition but lost the most recent to Saint-Étienne six years ago. Also, Basel have actually won six of ten European ties when losing the first leg away. Marseille though have got through their last seven ties when winning the first leg at home.
Both teams to score is 4/7.
Marseille to qualify at the end of 90 minutes is 4/11.
Arkadiusz Milik has scored eight goals in his last five appearance in Europe. The Polish striker is 15/4 to break the deadlock and 21/20 to add to his tally.
Match preview
Following the first leg at Stade Vélodrome, it is still very much all to play for with a quarter-final place in the line.
Olympique de Marseille were big favourites coming into this tie and this only increased when they were awarded an 18th minute penalty.
Mid-way through the second half, the striker doubled OM’s lead; Cengiz Ünder’s shot was spilled by Heinz Lindner and Milik smashed home the rebound.
In truth, les Phocéens dominated the first leg but will make the 387 mile journey north with only a one-goal advantage.
That’s because, just ten minutes from time, Wouter Burger’s perfect through-ball played in Sebastiano Esposito and he finished cooly.
So, 2-1 it finished in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, meaning this one is up for grabs.
FC Basel won eight successive Swiss Super League titles between 2010 and 2017 but have had to settled for second or even third since then.
This isn’t likely to change this year as they’re currently 12 points behind run-away league-leaders FC Zürich with ten games to go.
Despite this, RotBlau have remained competitive in Europe, reaching the Europa League quarter-finals just two seasons ago.
To get this far, Patrick Rahmen’s side have already seen off Partizani Tirana, Újpest, Hammarby, Qarabağ, Kairat and Omonia.
In doing so, Basel have won all six European home matches this season, needing to make that seven to have a chance of getting through.
Marseille meanwhile are the only French club to be crowned European Champions, lifting the European Cup in 1993, also appearing in the 2018 Europa League Final.
More broadly, OM haven’t won any silverware since lifting the Coupe de la Ligue a decade ago, so are taking this tournament very seriously.
After slumping to third in their Europa League group, Jorge Sampaoli’s hammered Qarabağ 6-1 in the first knockout round.
However, this was always going to be a much tougher assignment so will Marseille get the required result at St. Jakob-Park?
Basel team news
Guillermo Abascal is without full-backs Michael Lang, Andrea Padula and Raoul Petretta due to injury.
So, 21 year old Tomás Tavares will continue at right-back with Noah Katterbach on the other side.
Ádám Szalai started the weekend win over Servette but isn’t in the UEFA squad so will play no part in this tie.
Thus, Fedor Chalov will return up front.
Olympique Marseille team news
The visiors are missing talismanic captain Dimitri Payet who’s first leg booking means he is suspended.
This is a huge blow because Payet has scored nine goals in Europe for Marseille, helping them reach the Europa League Final four years ago.
On fire Arkadiusz Milik and Cengiz Ünder will start up top with young American Konrad de la Fuente, possibly, coming in after he scored in Baku in the last round.
Cédric Bakambu, Amine Harit and Bamba Dieng are the alternatives.
At the back, Jorge Sampaoli switches between a back four and a back three regularly.
Either way, Arsenal loanee William Saliba and Duje Ćaleta-Car are always key member of his defence.
Club legend Steve Mandanda is set to make his 604th appearance for OM, coming in for Pau López who starts Ligue 1 games these days.
Swiss Super League table:
Ligue 1 table:
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