Champions League Player Ratings: Marseille 1-0 Inter

His first save was his best of the match, tipping a close-range effort from Forlan over the bar. Dealt comfortably with everything Inter threw at him thereafter - which wasn't much - and also showed a useful willingness to come off his line and act as sweeper on occasion.

The defender went close to making an early breakthrough for the hosts with a wonderful dipping effort from distance and also stood up well to Zarate whenever the Argentine drifted out to his flank. Decent display.

Rarely ruffled at the back and could so easily have opened the scoring for his side but he failed to get enough on Valbuena’s inviting delivery from the left-hand side.

A pretty poor performance, particularly during the first half. Morel was presented with three decent crossing opportunities inside the opening 15 minutes but produced atrocious deliveries on each occasion and he was then caught napping by Zanetti as he foolishly tried to allow the ball to run in touch. Also attempted a horribly speculative shot from distance at one point.

Got through plenty of work and put his imposing physique to good affect on occasions. However, he also looked clumsy at times and one hilariously awkward attempt to head the ball resulted in a handball. Booked for taking out Obi in the closing stages.

Industrious display from Diarra, who really put himself about in midfifeld without ever really taking control of the game.

Was particularly prominent in the early exchanges. Indeed, it was his curling effort which Lucio deflected wide. He kept Marseille ticking over well in midfield but his influence waned as the game wore on and he was replaced six minutes from the end.

He was desperately ineffective for well over an hour. However, after a string of dreadful deliveries, Amalfitano produced a couple of wonderful crosses into the area for Ayew in the closing stages.

At the hub of everything good that Marseille produced going forward, Valbuena was a constant threat to the Inter defence with his quick feet, clever movement, incisive passing and accurate set-piece delivery. Indeed, it came as no surprise that the decisive goal came from one of his in-swinging corners.

Has been in good form of late but he spent a large portion of the first half on the deck as he struggled pathetically to cope with Samuel’s physicality. And his historonics did nothing to disguise his truly dreadful first touch. Improved a little in the second period but was rightly withdrawn on 73 minutes. His exit coincided with Marseille's best spell in the game.

For all of Marseille's endeavour, the Brazilian had nothing to do during the first period, though he did deal well with the few crosses which Marseille's wide players actually managed to get past the first man. Saved a couple of decent headers from Ayew but was left with no chance for the winner.

The evergreen Argentine displayed his incredible drive and fantastic never-say-attitude by retrieving his own ball forward at one point during the first half only to see the lethargic Zarate fail to make the most of his good work. Worked tirelessly throughout and underlined once more that he remains one of Inter's most reliable performers.

As usual, showed no lack of hunger or heart. Threw his body in front of the ball to block an early effort on goal from Cheyrou and made a number of timely interceptions. Also ventured forward to good effect, putting Forlan in behind the Marseille defence with an inventive scooped pass.

Was lucky to get away with a schoolboy error early on when he allowed the ball to bounce in his own area but, for the most part, he defended solidly enough. Surprisingly for him, though, he offered no attacking threat before being replaced by Nagatomo during the break because of a knee injury.

Undoubtedly got under Brandao's skin with his heavy-handed approach to defending - not that bothered the Argentine in the slightest. However, he did go too far on occasion, giving away a couple of frees in dangerous positions.

The decision to recall the Romanian at left-back raised a few eyebrows and he was his usual unreliable self. Indeed, he almost gave the ball away inside his own box at one point in the second half and was booked for senselessly going through the back of Amalfitano. Worst of all, he completely lost Ayew at the corner which led to the winning goal.

Back in the side after injury but he had a desperately poor first half. Indeed, his first contribution of note was a horribly wayward pass which went straight into touch nine minutes in and was also caught napping in possession at one point. His control was suspect throughout and he should have reacted better when a Sneijder free-kick dropped at his feet on 74 minutes.

Despite his now well-documented reservations about the Dutchman, Ranieri persisted with Sneijder in the trequartista role. To be fair to the Netherlands international, he showed what he could do every time he received possession in a decent attacking area, releasing Zarate away down the left wing on 27 minutes before putting Cambiasso in behind the Marseille defence shortly before the break. However, he also gave the ball straight to Valbuena at one point, an error which eventually led to a Marseille free-kick on the edge of the Inter area.

Inter’s outstanding performer on the night, Cambiasso got through a fantastic amount of work but also offered a wonderful outlet down the left-hand side. Indeed, it was his terrific ball in from the which Forlan failed to convert, and it was Cambiasso who cut the ball back invitingly for Zarate only to see his compatriot shoot feebly on goal.

Chosen to lead the line in spite of a dreadful performance against Bologna last time out and was presented with a fine chance to open the scoring 10 minutes in but his close-range effort was tipped over by Mandanda. To be fair to the out-of-form Uruguayan, the ball had come to him at an awkward height, but it was impossible not to feel that the Forlan of old would have converted such an opportunity. Indeed, his lack of confidence was underlined by a woeful scuffed shot from the edge of the box after being released into space by Zarate.