Marseille v Olympiakos: Europa League preview, predicted line-ups and team news

Marseille need a response after a 4-1 defeat at Besiktas on matchday one. Olympiakos arrive with a win and a long injury list.

Jon Fisher

Published

Wed 14 Oct, 16:32

Updated

Thu 15 Oct, 21:54

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Marseille have lost their only Europa League game so far and cannot afford a second slip on matchday two.

Marseille went down 4-1 at Besiktas on 17 September. Olympiakos opened with a 2-1 home win over Jagiellonia a day earlier. Both sides have played once in the league stage, and Besiktas sit fourth in the early snapshot on three points.

The Marseille manager spoke before that Besiktas game about going all out in this competition. One heavy defeat later, that ambition is being tested early.

Marseille

0–1

Full time

Olympiakos Piraeus

Thu 15 Oct, 20:00

Marseille conceded four times in Istanbul, two of them between the 46th and 60th minutes. They scored once, in the first half, and had 46% of the ball. They managed 14 shots, three of them on target.

Olympiakos beat Jagiellonia 2-1 at home, scoring once before the break and once in the last 15 minutes. They had 58% possession and 26 shots, six on target. Their expected goals were 2.53 against 0.52, so the scoreline flattered the visitors.

This is a first meeting between the clubs since December 2020.

Rotation is unlikely to be a talking point. Marseille have no points and the league-stage table is tight, so a strong XI is the obvious choice. The manager has to put right a defence that shipped four goals.

Olympiakos have a slimmer attack than they started the season with. Several forwards are listed as unavailable, which limits how much their coach can change. Expect the side that beat Jagiellonia, adjusted only where injuries force it.

Last 6 · most recent left

Marseille

LW0 D0 L1

Olympiakos Piraeus

WW1 D0 L0

Europa League · season 2026 · UEFA Europa LeagueLive snapshot

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
4	Ferencvarosi TC	3	3	0	0	+6	9
5	Olympiakos Piraeus	3	3	0	0	+3	9
6	Union St. Gilloise	3	2	1	0	+7	7
7	Juventus	3	2	1	0	+6	7
8	Beşiktaş	3	2	1	0	+4	7
9	Sunderland	3	2	1	0	+2	7
10	AZ Alkmaar	3	2	0	1	+4	6
11	Omonia Nicosia	3	2	0	1	+1	6
12	Lyon	3	2	0	1	-1	6
13	Rennes	3	1	2	0	+1	5
14	Real Sociedad	3	1	1	1	+5	4
15	Crystal Palace	3	1	1	1	+3	4
16	Sparta Praha	3	1	1	1	+2	4
17	Levski Sofia	3	1	1	1	0	4
18	Dinamo Zagreb	3	1	1	1	-1	4
19	Sturm Graz	3	1	1	1	-2	4
20	NEC Nijmegen	3	1	1	1	-3	4
21	Red Bull Salzburg	3	1	1	1	-3	4
22	Anderlecht	3	1	0	2	+1	3
23	1899 Hoffenheim	3	1	0	2	0	3
24	AC Milan	3	1	0	2	-1	3
25	Celta Vigo	3	1	0	2	-1	3
26	OFI	3	1	0	2	-1	3
27	Jagiellonia	3	1	0	2	-2	3
28	Torreense	3	1	0	2	-3	3
29	Celje	3	0	1	2	-5	1
30	Hapoel Beer Sheva	3	0	1	2	-5	1
31	Lillestrom	3	0	1	2	-7	1
32	Lech Poznan	3	0	1	2	-8	1
33	Plzen	3	0	0	3	-5	0
34	Marseille	3	0	0	3	-5	0
35	Celtic	3	0	0	3	-6	0

Europa League

Last 4 meetings · most recent first

1 Dec 20Marseille2–1Olympiakos PiraeusMarseille
21 Oct 20Olympiakos Piraeus1–0MarseilleOlympiakos Piraeus
23 Nov 11Marseille0–1Olympiakos PiraeusOlympiakos Piraeus
13 Sept 11Olympiakos Piraeus0–1MarseilleMarseille

Home wins

Draws

Away wins

Goals · H / A

3 / 3

Marseille4-3-3

12GJ. de Lange
22DT. Weah
18DB. Meité
21DN. Aguerd
33DEmerson
6MT. Nnadi
7MA. Gomes
8MH. Abdelli
48FK. Abdallah
11FN. Maupay
14FIgor Paixão

Manager · Bruno Genesio

Olympiakos Piraeus4-2-3-1

1GS. Ortega
2DM. Saliakas
45DP. Retsos
5DL. Pirola
70DS. Onyemaechi
15MG. Puerta
32MS. Hezze
10MGelson Martins
22MChiquinho
20MJota Silva
11FR. Yaremchuk

Manager · Imanol Alguacil

Marseille v Olympiakos kicks off at 20:00 BST on Thursday 15 October. It is shown on TNT Sports where selected, and can also be streamed through discovery+.

This is a league-stage fixture, so there is no extra time or penalty shootout if the game finishes level after 90 minutes. Both sides take a point.

The sides have met four times, all in the Champions League. Marseille and Olympiakos have won two each, with no draws.
The last meeting was a 2-1 Marseille win on 1 December 2020. The four games averaged 1.5 goals.
Marseille conceded four goals at Besiktas on 17 September. Olympiakos had 13 corners to Jagiellonia's none in their opener.
Only one of the four previous meetings had more than 2.5 goals, and both teams scored in one of them.

Headline prediction · our pick

✗ MissConfidence · medium

match result: marseille to win

Olympiakos created the better chances on matchday one, but they are short of forwards and Marseille should find it easier at home. Marseille are shaky at the back and will concede, though they have enough attacking quality to take the points.

Best Price-bet365 · score 2-1

✗ Prediction missed

TIP 01✗ Miss

Correct Score: 2-1

Marseille conceded four goals at Besiktas, and Olympiakos scored twice from 26 shots against Jagiellonia. Both sides should score. Marseille edge it with a one-goal margin. Past meetings have been tight, which is the risk, but 8/1 is a fair price.

TIP 02✗ Miss

Over 2.5 Goals: Over

Marseille's only league-stage game finished with five goals and Olympiakos's with three. Marseille's defence is the weak link, and Olympiakos averaged 2.53 expected goals in their opener. The four previous meetings averaged only 1.5 goals, so this is a modest call. It is 8/11.

TIP 03✗ Miss

Both Teams to Score: Yes

Both sides scored in their opening matches. Marseille shipped four, and Olympiakos conceded in the 16th to 30th minute of theirs. Olympiakos are short up front, which is the risk. Both to score at 3/5 is the safest goals angle.

TIP 04✗ Miss

Anytime Goalscorer: A. Gouiri

Gouiri is the most natural central striker in Marseille's squad and should lead the line in the 4-2-3-1. Marseille scored once in the opener, and Gouiri is the likeliest to get a goal at home. He is a short price, which is the risk. Roughly 3/2 is fair.

TIP 05✗ Miss

Double Chance: Home or Draw

Olympiakos are missing El Kaabi and several other forwards, and their only game so far was at home. Marseille have not won yet but have the stronger squad on paper. The risk is a repeat of the Besiktas defending. Home or Draw is the cautious cover at around 4/11.

Build the Marseille v Olympiakos Piraeus bet

BetFootball Builder · 3 Legs✗ Miss

Home Win

✗ Miss

Match Result

The anchor leg. Marseille should be at home, with Olympiakos light up front, and a win supports the goals and scorer legs.

Over

✗ Miss

Over 2.5 Goals

Marseille's weak defence and Olympiakos's chance creation point to goals. It fits with a home win without relying on a heavy scoreline.

A. Gouiri

✗ Miss

Anytime Goalscorer

If Marseille win and the game is open, their striker is the likeliest scorer. He completes the builder without sharing a market with the other two legs.

Marseille v Olympiakos: Europa League preview, predicted line-ups and team news