The Eintracht under pressure
The Winter World Cup in Qatar makes it possible and necessary. The Champions League schedule includes the second matches in the group stage just one week after the first matchday. Eintracht Frankfurt will play away at Olympique Marseille on the French Mediterranean coast. After their opening defeats, both teams are under pressure to at least score points.
Eintracht have travelled to an away game in the European top flight since the 1959/60 season, when they beat Glasgow Rangers in the semi-finals of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup before losing the final, also in Glasgow, to Real Madrid. So now the Hessians should face another interesting away trip in the highest possible European Cup.
It is certainly too early to make any concrete statements about the outcome of this group, but Olympique Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt lost their opening matches. The French side’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspurs was certainly to be expected.
The Hessians learned the hard way on matchday one, going down 3-0 at home to Sporting Lisbon. There is now a key game on Tuesday. A defeat in France should mean that it will be extremely difficult for Oliver Glasner’s team to survive in the European Cup. However, we think that on this second matchday between Marseille and Frankfurt you should rather be right with a tip on a French victory.
Marseille – Statistics & current form
Olympique Marseille have a great tradition in the top flight. After all, the French were the first Champions League title winners in 1992. For years, however, OM has had problems keeping up with the big boys. The last four Olympique coaches have all lost their first home game in the Champions League. Didier Deschamps and Andre Villas-Boas were among them. On Tuesday, Igor Tudor aims to break that curse.
Series of defeats in the top division
However, OM have lost 15 of their last 16 matches in the top flight, picking up just one meagre win in that period. The poor record in Europe’s top flight could well mean that you can also look at the odds for an away win between Marseille and Frankfurt. However, the French are doing very well this season.
Igor Tudor’s team has played eight competitive games this season and only lost in the top flight at Tottenham. In Ligue 1, they are level on points with Paris Saint-Germain in second place with 19 points from seven games. OM are therefore in attack mode and will do everything they can to collect their first points in the top flight.
The dress rehearsal was successful last weekend with a 2-1 home win against Lille. Alexis Sanchez and Samuel Gigot were the goal scorers for OM. On Tuesday, there will probably be a larger rotation again. Igor Tudor has enough players at his disposal. Only Chancel Mbemba will not be able to play after he was shown the red card in London last week and is now missing due to suspension.
Predicted Marseille line-up:
Lopez – Bailly, Gigot, Balerdi – Gueye, Rongier, Kabore, Tavares – Payet, Harit – Sanchez – Coach: Tudor
Last matches played by Marseille:
Ligue 1
11/09/2022 – Marseille 2 – 1 Lille
Champions League Grp. D
08/09/2022 – Tottenham 2 – 0 Marseille
Ligue 1
03/09/2022 – Auxerre 0 – 2 Marseille
01/09/2022 – Marseille 1 – 0 Clermont Foot
28/08/2022 – Nice 0 – 3 Marseille
Frankfurt – Statistics & current form
Last season, the magnificent triumph in the Europa League still concealed Frankfurt Eintracht’s deficits in the Bundesliga. As in the previous season, the squad does not seem to be set up to deliver successful football in two or three competitions at the same time. So far, the Hessians’ start to the season has been nothing more than mixed.
Without self-confidence to Marseille
Just a week ago, everything seemed to be in the green after the 4-0 win against Leipzig. After that, however, there were two home defeats in two games. With eight points from six games, Eintracht is currently only in eleventh place in the Bundesliga. Under these conditions, a prediction of an away win between Marseille and Frankfurt would be very foolhardy.
Last weekend, the 0:3 defeat against Lisbon should be erased. The struggling VfL Wolfsburg seemed to be the ideal opponent for that, but Frankfurt lacked everything needed for a win in the Bundesliga. Oliver Glasner’s team conceded a 0:1 defeat. In the aftermath, the coach poured out a cornucopia of clear criticism on his team.
In terms of personnel, there are basically only problems in the defensive area. Jerome Onguene, Almamy Toure, Christopher Lenz, Aurelio Buta and Sebastian Rode will not be available in Marseille. After the performances against Sporting and Wolfsburg, Oliver Glasner will now be thinking very carefully about who he can rely on in this tough away game in the Champions League.
Predicted Frankfurt line-up:
Trapp – Pellegrini, Ndicka, Tuta, Knauff – Ebimbe, Sow – Götze, Kamada, Kolo Muani – Borre – coach: Glasner
Last matches played by Frankfurt:
Bundesliga
10/09/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 0 – 1 VfL Wolfsburg
Champions League Grp. D
07/09/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 0 – 3 Sporting CP
Bundesliga
03/09/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 4 – 0 RB Leipzig
28/08/2022 – Werder Bremen 3 – 4 Eintracht Frankfurt
21/08/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 1 – 1 1. FC Köln
Marseille – Frankfurt Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Only once before has the draw brought direct duels between Olympique Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt. In the 2018/19 season, both teams met in the group stage of the Europa League. At that time, the Frankfurt side prevailed in both matches and thus have a flawless record against the French side.
The first leg in Marseille was won 2-1 by the Hessians, and the return leg was played on the Main in November 2018. The Frankfurt side benefited from two own goals by Luiz Gustavo and Bouna Sarr. Luka Jovic did the rest with a brace in Eintracht’s 4-0 win. By now, however, the balance of power may have turned a bit
Marseille – Frankfurt Tip
Olympique Marseille have a shocking record in the Champions League. They have lost 15 of their last 16 games in the top flight. This season, however, the French have assembled a squad that can certainly improve that statistic. Igor Tudor is finally aiming for a home win in a Champions League opener after four unsuccessful attempts by different coaches.
Frankfurt are playing away in the top flight for the first time since 1960, when they were still playing in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup. The euphoria is still great, even if things are not going well for Eintracht in the Bundesliga and they have made a false start in the Champions League.
Oliver Glasner has read his team the riot act after the last two defeats. A show of defiance is to be expected, but the French are doing very well with only one defeat from the first eight competitive games of the season. That is why we have decided to play the betting odds on a home win in the match between Marseille and Frankfurt.
