Joao Pedro scored an 88th-minute winner
Joao Pedro scored an 88th-minute winner as Brighton beat Marseille to advance to the Europa League last 16 stage as Group B winners.
Only victory for the Seagulls would have seen them leapfrog their Ligue 1 visitors and avoid having to navigate the Europa League knockout play-off round.
It looked as if Roberto De Zerbi’s side would be held to a drab goalless draw, but Pedro picked up the ball in Marseille’s box, expertly created space for himself and then drove a shot into the top corner.
Victory means Brighton will next be in European action in March 2024, with the draw for the last 16 taking place on 23 February.
Marseille will also be in the knockout play-off round and face a side who finished third in the Champions League group stages.
More to follow.
Player of the match
GilmourBilly Gilmour
Brighton & Hove Albion
Squad number11Player nameGilmour
Squad number9Player nameJoão Pedro
Squad number5Player nameDunk
Squad number13Player nameGroß
Squad number41Player nameHinshelwood
Squad number3Player nameIgor Julio
Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
Squad number28Player nameFerguson
Squad number22Player nameMitoma
Squad number23Player nameSteele
Squad number24Player nameAdingra
Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte
Squad number14Player nameLallana
Squad number34Player nameVeltman
Squad number20Player nameBaleba
Squad number6Player nameMilner
Marseille
Squad number16Player namePau López
Squad number29Player nameNdiaye
Squad number11Player nameHarit
Squad number10Player nameAubameyang
Squad number27Player nameVeretout
Squad number23Player nameSarr
Squad number8Player nameOunahi
Squad number7Player nameClauss
Squad number5Player nameBalerdi
Squad number18Player nameMeïté
Squad number99Player nameMbemba
Squad number12Player nameRenan Lodi
Squad number19Player nameKondogbia
Squad number9Player nameVítinha
Squad number62Player nameMurillo
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Steele
41Hinshelwood29van Hecke5Dunk3dos Santos de Paulo
11Gilmour13Groß
24Adingra40Buonanotte22Mitoma
9João Pedro
23Steele41HinshelwoodSubstituted forMilnerat 74’minutes29van Hecke5DunkBooked at 90mins3dos Santos de Paulo11GilmourSubstituted forBalebaat 90+1’minutes13Groß24AdingraSubstituted forFergusonat 64’minutes40BuonanotteSubstituted forLallanaat 74’minutesBooked at 79mins22MitomaBooked at 84mins9João PedroBooked at 89minsSubstituted forVeltmanat 90+1’minutesSubstitutes1Verbruggen6Milner8Dahoud14Lallana20Baleba28Ferguson34Veltman38McGill45Hinchy48Chouchane52Kavanagh56Duffus
Marseille
Formation 3-4-3
16López
18Meïté99Mbemba5Balerdi
7Clauss27Veretout8Ounahi12Lodi
9Carvalho Oliveira10Aubameyang11Harit
16López18Meïté99MbembaBooked at 75mins5Balerdi7Clauss27VeretoutSubstituted forKondogbiaat 78’minutes8OunahiBooked at 79mins12LodiSubstituted forMurilloat 55’minutes9Carvalho OliveiraSubstituted forNdiayeat 52’minutes10Aubameyang11HaritSubstituted forSarrat 78’minutesBooked at 90minsSubstitutes1Ngapandouetnbu4Gigot19Kondogbia23Sarr24Mughe29Ndiaye34Nadir36Blanco37Soglo62Murillo
Referee:José María Sánchez Martínez
Live Text
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Marseille 0.
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Marseille 0.
Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Ismaïla Sarr (Marseille) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ismaïla Sarr (Marseille).
James Milner (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Amir Murillo (Marseille).
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Ismaïla Sarr (Marseille).
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Carlos Baleba replaces Billy Gilmour.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Joël Veltman replaces João Pedro because of an injury.
João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Marseille 0. João Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Pascal Groß.
Attempt missed. Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma.
Offside, Marseille. Ismaïla Sarr is caught offside.
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Chancel Mbemba (Marseille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion).
