Michael Owen praises Brighton for 'big, big result' after comeback draw at Marseille in Europa League

Michael Owen has lavished praise on Brighton & Hove Albion for fighting back from two goals down to claim a point at Olympique de Marseille in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

After losing their first match in European competition at home to AEK Athens last month, the Seagulls looked in trouble when falling two goals down at the Velodrome to efforts from Chancel Mbemba and Jordan Veretout.

On the back of a heavy defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, there were concerns for Brighton, but Roberto De Zerbi’s side battled back to secure a 2-2 draw at the Velodrome thanks to a goal from Pascal Gross and a late Joao Pedro penalty.

It was a second-half fightback that impressed TNT Sports expert Owen.

“I think it’s a brilliant comeback, it’s not an easy place to go," said Owen.

“Imagine their mindset after losing the first one and then going 2-0 down in the space of a minute and 20 seconds, imagine how they were feeling at that point?

“Were they thinking Aston Villa again?

“To be fair, with the week they’ve had, to come back is a big, big result.”

The point gives Brighton lift-off in Group B, albeit they are bottom of the pool but just a point behind Marseille and Ajax, and Owen feels they are in contention to qualify for the knockout stages.

Owen said: “It is a point for them but it means Marseille do not get an extra two points which would have put a big gap between them.

“They are right in this group now.

"If they’d lost today I’d be fearing for them.”

Brighton face Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League before their next Europa League game against Ajax on October 26.

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Heineken Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media