Marseille's X-ray

Benfica will face Marseille in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, following the draw held this Friday, March 15, in Nyon (Switzerland). The first leg will be played at the Estádio da Luz on April 11 and the second leg in France on April 18.

In the quarter-finals of the competition, the team from the south of France started the season in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League against Greek side Panathinaikos. After losing the first leg in Athens (1-0), the men then coached by Spaniard Marcelino Toral won the second leg in Marseille by the narrowest of margins (2-1) and were eliminated from the competition in a penalty shootout.

In the Europa League, Marseille were drawn in Group B, where they met Brighton (1-0 in England and 2-2 in France), Dutch side Ajax (4-3 at home and 3-3 in Amsterdam) and Greek side AEK (0-2 in Athens and 3-1 on French soil).

As a result of three wins, two draws and one defeat - with a record of 14 goals scored and 10 conceded - the French club amassed 11 points, which put them in 2nd place behind Brighton.

Forced to play in the Europa League play-offs, Marseille faced Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, drawing 2-2 away in the first leg and winning 3-1 at home in the second leg.

In the round of 16, while Benfica met Rangers, Marseille overcame Spanish side Villarreal 5-3 on aggregate (a 4-0 home win in the first leg and a 3-1 defeat in Spain in the second leg).

It's the third time Marseille have met Benfica in European competition, with the balance in both qualifiers going in favor of the Eagles.

Marseille, coached by Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset - he replaced Italian Gennaro Gattuso, who had succeeded Spaniard Marcelino Toral - are currently in 7th place in Ligue 1, with 39 points, seven behind Monaco in 3rd place, which gives them direct access to the 2024/25 Champions League.

Individually, Gabonese international striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with 23 goals in 38 games this season, is one of the stars of the team, which was bolstered in the January transfer market with left-backs Quentin Merlin (ex-Nantes) and Ulisses Garcia (ex-Young Boys), and striker Faris Moumbagna (ex-Bodo/Glimt).

Ulisses Garcia, Pape Gueye and Jean Onana, players who have been used regularly in domestic competitions, are not registered with UEFA.

Renan Lodi (left-back transferred to Al-Hilal), Malinovskyi (attacking midfielder transferred to Genoa) and Vitinha (Portuguese striker on loan at Genoa) were the club's main departures in the winter market.

*Source: transfermarkt.pt