With Liverpool to play in the Europa League late kick-off, all Premier League eyes were on Brighton and West Ham in the early evening on Thursday, and they both had successful trips on the road, away to Olympique Marseille and SC Freiburg.
Roberto Di Zerbi’s Brighton came from two goals behind grab a point in Marseille while David Moyes’ West Ham battled hard to take all three from a tough venue in Germany.
Marseille 2-2 Brighton
The atmosphere at the Stade Velodrome was electric as Olympique Marseille started on the front foot and, just as the Seagulls thought they were getting a foothold in the game they were hit by a fierce double blow. With 19 minutes on the clock former Newcastle United star Chancel Mbemba steered a cutback into the net, and, two minutes later, OM were two goals up when Jordan Veretout seized on a rare mistake from Brighton centre back Lewis Dunk to sweep home the second.
Roberto Di Zerbi is a talented manager with an exciting squad but he watched them get destroyed 6-1 by Aston Villa last week and 20 minutes in it looked pretty grim in the South of France. Olympique Marseille recently hired Gennaro Gattuso as head coach and they showed plenty of aggression in the mould of their manager. The early Europa League 2023 betting odds make Brighton the second favourites, behind Liverpool, to win the tournament; but they were being outplayed. The half time stats showed how OM had dominated the first 45 with ten shots to five and four to two on target.
But the Seagulls had enjoyed their fair share of possession; and they were back in the game early in the second half when Pascal Gross finished off a sweeping Brighton move. Tariq Lamptey did superbly well down the left before picking out Kaoru Mitoma and he cut it back to Gross, so often the man for the big moment, and he slid the ball home to bring the game to life. The goal seemed to spark the Seagulls into life and they pushed hard for the equaliser; and a golden chance came with two minutes remaining. Lamptey was felled by Jonathan Clauss and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Joao Pedro, who scored two penalties in their opening match was cool as you like as he sent Pau Lopez the wrong way to quieten the crowd in the Stade Velodrome. After getting slapped away to Villa this as a vital comeback and Di Zerbi will be a happy man.
Next up for Brighton…a tasty Premier League clash at home to Liverpool on Sunday. Here at SBOTOP we previewed the game and reckon we’re in for a high scoring draw; maybe another 2-2 for Brighton.
SC Freiburg 1-2 West Ham
In a tough game away to Freiburg the Hammers were ahead with just nine minutes on the clock. Jarrod Bowen made a driving run and swung in a dangerous cross which Lucas Paqueta met, with a powerful downward header, giving the Freiburg stopper no chance. The Hammers were all over their German hosts in the early moments but Mohamed Kudus saw his shot bounce back off the post, and then Paqueta had a goal ruled off for offside.
David Moyes’ side should have gone into half time with a comfortable lead but they were made to pay, early in the second half, when Freiburg’s Hungarian midfielder Roland Sallai scored the leveller, smashing the ball home after West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski had made a brilliant double save. The tide had turned and Freiburg should have been ahead within minutes but Nicolas Hofler blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
But then football’s a funny old game and, in the blink of an eye the Hammers were back in front. James Ward-Prowse is quickly becoming a West Ham favourite since his switch from relegated Southampton in the summer. His dead ball delivery is second to none and he swung in a brilliant corner which Nayef Aguerd met and he powered his header into the net to make it 2-1. Kudus had a superb chance to extend West Ham’s lead when he fired wide; but the Hammers held on for a brilliant win.
In other Europa League 2023 results there were wins for Atalanta and Real Betis.
Giorgio Scalvini gave La Dea a 33rd minute lead away to Sporting Lisbon and Matteo Ruggeri made it 2-0 before the break. Victor Gyokeres pulled one back from the penalty spot but Atalanta saw out a deserved win. Meanwhile, in Spain, Isco scored a late winner to give Betis a 2-1 victory over Sparta Prague.
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