Marseille to face Atalanta after penalty shoot-out victory over Benfica | OneFootball

Olympique de Marseille beat Benfica on penalties in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final at the Vélodrome on Thursday, booking their place in the next round of the competition where they will face Serie A side Atalanta.

Marseille had a one-goal deficit to overcome following a 2-1 loss at the Estadio Da Luz a week earlier. It took until the 79th minute to find that vital equaliser and it came courtesy of Faris Moumbagna. That goal sent the tie to extra time and then to penalties with OM overcoming their Portuguese opponents 4-2.

Cue scenes of joy at the Vélodrome as Les Phocéens qualified for the semi-finals of a European competition for the ninth time since 1988. Marseille have already discovered their opponents for the next round. Jean-Louis Gasset’s men will face Serie A side Atalanta, who beat Premier League giants Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate. Whilst OM struggle in Ligue 1, their dream of an unlikely qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League remains very much alive.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle