Thursday sees us take a trip to Bergamo as Atalanta play host to Marseille in the Europa League semi-final.
The Thursday Hurdle
After a 1-1 draw at the Stade Velodrome last week, both the Italian and the French outfits will fancy their hopes of progressing to the final.
Tie Finely Balanced
With Thursday night being a busy night for European action, fans of continental football will be spoilt for choice and although the clash between Atalanta and Marseille may not be everyone’s first pick, the level of jeopardy involved should make it popular viewing all the same.
The reason for that jeopardy is due to last Thursday’s stalemate in the south of France and although former West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca put the visitors ahead after 11 minutes, it would only take nine further minutes for the hosts to restore parity.
Parity from another player who would trigger the memories of Premier League observers. Former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba took his chance perfectly and with the scores tied at one each going into the break, that is how the first leg of this Europa League semi-final would finish.
A draw on the Côte d’Azur but a balanced score in Bergamo will not be good enough to deliver one of this season’s two Europa League finalists. Should there be another stalemate after 90 minutes, then the Gewiss Stadium is ready for 30 more and penalties if need be.
Should an additional form of tiebreaker be required, it may just give Gian Piero Gasperini’s men an additional advantage. An additional half hour in front of your own support can prove to be the difference but it can also lead to increased level of frustration if you do not go in front.
If the game is to go into extra-time, the longer Marseille can stay in the tie, the more tense the atmosphere becomes. Then manager Jean-Louis Gasset and his players have a decision to make. Go for the jugular or soak up the pressure and prepare for penalties?
At the same time, Marseille may have a similar dilemma to ask themselves in regulation time. If they do not concede, they certainly will not lose in those 90 minutes, but will they be bold enough to get a winner?
Liverpool were certainly bold enough to earn a winner against Atalanta in the second leg of their recent quarter-final tie, but the damage was already done by the time their opening skirmish at Anfield had concluded.
That three-nil reverse on Merseyside was one that stunned the usually rapturous Anfield crowd. It was also a reverse that saw Atalanta’s stock soar in terms of Europa League shares and now their task will be to cash them in for a place in this season’s final.
But now it is time for the first of my two tips and with Scamacca scoring twice on Merseyside and in the first leg of this semi-final, I am backing him to aid Atalanta’s path to the final. A goal from him anytime and the home win combined is priced at 12/5.
In addition to this, there were 12 total corners in the first leg of this tie – albeit 11 of those for Marseille. I am opting for even more this time around and you can get a total of 15 or more at odds of 9/1.
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