With the complicated accounts in the fight for the national title (seven points behind the leader Sporting), Benfica may start to bet all their chips on the Europa League, where they will try to access the 'semis' of the competition, this Thursday, against Olympique Marseille, at the Vélodrome, after having won at Luz (2-1), in the first leg of the 'quarters'.

Similar to what happened in the playoffs to access the 'round of 16', against Toulouse, the eagles will travel again to France with a tangential advantage (also with a 2-1) and they know that avoiding a defeat automatically guarantees the qualification for the top4 of the competition, being that, in that match, a draw (0-0) was enough to move forward.

Ahead, Roger Schmidt's team will have an opponent in a 'crisis' of results, adding defeats to all the last five duels they played (two at European level and three in Ligue 1), but who has the advantage of having 'rested' in the French championship last weekend to focus on the decisive duel against Benfica.

The history of the incarnates' trips to Gallic territory is not exactly positive (four wins, five draws and eight defeats), being that the last triumph happened in 2013, against Bordeaux (2-3), but the truth is that a draw will be enough for Benfica to reach the 'semis' of the Europa League, where they will have Atalanta or Liverpool on their way to the Dublin final.

The game has its kick-off scheduled for 8 pm (Continental Portugal time) this Thursday, at the Vélodrome, with the refereeing of the German Felix Zwayer, and you will be able to follow the incidents of the match, live, at Desporto ao Minuto.

Coaches in direct speech

Jean-Louis Gasset:

Strategy for the second leg: "We have to find the balance to create doubts in the opponent and attack from there. Even so, we have to be careful in the transitions, something we didn't do in the first leg. They have good players in the counterattack".

Benfica's status: "We are aware of the disadvantage of a goal. Benfica was in the 'quarters' of the Champions League last season. We must remember. We are talking about a great club. We must have aggressiveness, which is not the same as aggression. We need focus".

Sequence of five consecutive defeats: "We have been working on defensive stability throughout the week. We have to score and we have to keep our goal at zero. I think that this Thursday we have the conditions to achieve both things with a view to qualifying".

Roger Schmidt:

Never reached the semi-finals of Europe: "I only think about the team and the club. It is important for Benfica to reach the semi-finals. It is different, there is one step missing for the final, which means a great game, at the end of the season. It is our dream. We have many young players, others experienced, it is a good mix. We have already shown, in the Europa League, that we have the quality to reach this stage. Now, it is up to us to confirm, with good football and a good mentality. Then, everything is possible. It would be great, for all of us".

Game plan: "We have to play a very good game. Each game is unique. We won the first leg, we played a good game. Unfortunately, we conceded a goal, but tomorrow's game is demanding, because we play in their stadium. In the knockout stage, you have to play two very good games to move forward. In the quarter-finals, the quality of the opponents is always top. We have to play a courageous game, believe in ourselves and respect the quality of Marseille. If we do, we believe we will have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals".

Most important game of the year: "In international competitions, the further you go, the more important it is. Of course it is a great game. If we move forward, we will have another great game, in the semi-finals. It is up to us to be completely focused on this game and not look too far ahead. The players' focus is totally on tomorrow's game, to reach the next stage".

Last results

Olympique Marseille: L-L-L-L-L

Benfica: W-W-L-D-W

Last starting elevens

Olympique Marseille: Pau López, Chancel Mbemba, Samuel Gigot, Leonardo Balerdi, Quentin Merlin, Jordan Veretout, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Luis Henrique, Amine Harit, Faris Moumbagna and Aubameyang.

Benfica: Samuel Soares, Alexander Bah, Morato, Tomás Araújo, Álvaro Carreras, João Mário, João Neves, David Neres, Orkun Kökçü, Tiago Gouveia and Arthur Cabral.

Absences

Olympique Marseille: Ruiz, Onana, Nadir, Clauss and Merlin (injured).

Benfica: Juan Bernat and Tomás Araújo (injured).

Leia Também: Schmidt bets on two promises in Benfica's preparation for Marseille (Portuguese version)