Match Preview

Kuko Ziganda could well be on borrowed time, ahead of our Olympique de Marseille vs Athletic Bilbao preview and soccer odds, with the away boss under heavy pressure to perform in this competition to distract from the fact that Los Leones are disappointing currently in La Liga.

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Athletic Bilbao have a good record at home this campaign, but on their travels, they have been far less convincing, with their defensive and negative approach not getting them the result that they require. Olympique Marseille are excellent on their own patch and will be tough to beat.

Our Olympique de Marseille vs Athletic Bilbao predictions back the hosts to take a strong advantage into the second leg in Spain, which makes going for a home victory and a clean sheet for the Ligue 1 outfit the way to go in our Europa League tips for the week.

Los Leones will be depending on trying to keep the scoreline as narrow as possible, but it doesn’t appear likely that they could cause an upset. Last time out in the Europa League, they did manage to score a few goals away versus Spartak Moscow, but Marseille are far fitter and sharper.

Olympique de Marseille vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction and Betting Advice

Olympique Marseille are unbeaten in their last 16 consecutive games at Stade Velodrome in all competitions, with the hosts bound to be high on confidence and more than able to shut out an Athletic side who have won just one of their last six competitive games on the road.

Betfred offer the best value on the home side taking the victory into the second leg, with Athletic’s 3-1 win away to Spartak recently seen as more of an anomaly than anything else. The Russian outfit were just back from a winter break without competitive action, with a costly first half seeing some mistakes turn into goals for the Basque club.

Marseille last lost at home in the Europa League to Athletic, all the way back in February 2016, but plenty has changed since then. The departure of Ernesto Valverde as coach and a long-term injury to key man Iker Muniain have left Los Leones with more of a bark than a bite.

Our Olympique de Marseille vs Athletic Bilbao bets back the home side to keep a clean sheet in France, which is something that they have managed in four of their last five home matches in the Europa League. Only Vitoria Guimaraes have managed to find the back of the net at Stade Velodrome in the current edition of this competition.

William Hill offer the best value on just one side finding the back of the net on Thursday evening, with Marseille sure to be confident after slotting three goals past Sporting Braga at home in the last round. Florin Thauvin has been in terrific form this season and should be a real threat to the Basque visitors, who themselves are a little low on ideas getting forward.

The away side have failed to score in three of their last four competitive games on the road, with our Olympique de Marseille vs Athletic Bilbao betting tips suggesting that this record of low firepower should continue in Europe. Marseille need to make their home advantage count in the first leg and that is exactly what should happen.