Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Olympique Marseille will be aiming to seal their spot in the Conference League last 32 when they host Lokomotiv Moscow to their Stade Velodrome on Thursday. OM failed to impress in their last league match, with the team losing to Brest at home ground. Jorge Sampaoli should opt to make changes to the starting XI, with both Under and Milik pushing for a start. The Argentine tactician should have a full squad to choose from this time out.
The Russians, on the other hand, suffered a dip in form in the national championship, with the team losing to all Akhmat Grozny, Arsenal Tula, and Ural in the previous three league fixtures. Lokomotiv are not regarded as good travelers, and, taking everything into account, home win should be considered. All Anjorin, Guilherme, Magkeev, Miranchuk, Ze Luis, Zhemaletdinov, and Zhivoglyadov have been struggling with injuries of late for the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Florian Thauvin):
Born in Orleans, France on January 26, 1993, Florian Thauvan is a pacey winger who plays for Olympique Marseille. After spending his youth career at Ingre, Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle, Orleans and Grenoble, Thauvin made his senior debut with Grenoble in 2011.
The French footballer played for the likes of Bastia and Olympique Marseille in his homeland as well before joining Newcastle United in 2015. Even though many people expected that he would shine in the Premier League, Florian Thauvin was playing below expectations with the Magpies and, as a result, he returned to Olympique Marseille in 2016. Thauvin spend the 2016/2017 season on loan at the Stade Velodrome outfit and the deal was made permanent in the summer of 2017.
Speaking of his international career, Florian Thauvin scored seven goals in ten appearances for France U21 team, while making his debut for the senior squad in a 5-0 win over Paraguay in June, 2017. Thauvin’s main position is right winger, but he is capable of playing as both left winger and attacking midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (Lokomotiv Moscow):
Founded in 1922 as Kazanka, Lokomotiv Moscow are a Russian football club that play their home games at RZD Arena. The stadium was opened in July 2002 and the capacity of the venue is 27.320. Lokomotiv won their first Russian Premier League trophy in 2002, with the team finishing the season just above their local rivals CSKA Moscow.
The two teams were level on points (66), but thanks to a better head-to-head record Lokomotiv eventually lifted the trophy. Two years later (2004) the capital club repeated the success and once again CSKA Moscow finished second, only one point behind the Krasno-zelyonyye (Red-Greens). Lokomotiv Moscow have always been attracting high-profile footballers and it has to be noted that the likes of Felipe Caicedo, Peter Odemwingie, Branislav Ivanovic, Igor Denisov, Dmitri Torbinski, Vedran Corluka, Emir Spahic, Lassana Diarra and Jan Durica played for the club in the past.
Lokomotiv play their home games in green shirts and red shorts, while they wear white jerseys and white shorts when playing on the travels.