|
|
Played
February 22, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Stade Vélodrome — Marseille
Referee: C. Çakιr
Attendance: 37646
February 22, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Stade Vélodrome — Marseille
Referee: C. Çakιr
Attendance: 37646
90+3′
André Ayew
Champions League Preview: Olympique de Marseille - Inter
Two teams heading in different directions clash on Wednesday evening at Stade Velodrome, with the Italian coach under plenty of scrutiny after a poor run of domestic results.
By Adam Scime
Getty
| |
PROBABLE LINEUPS |
|
MARSEILLE
 Mandanda Azpilicueta, Diawara, Nkoulou, Morel Kabore, Cheyrou Amalfitano, Valbuena, A. Ayew Brandao |
INTER
 Julio Cesar Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo Zanetti, Palombo, Cambiasso, Poli Sneijder Milito |
The biggest blow for Marseille boss Didier Deschamps is the absence of France international attacker Loic Remy, who suffered a hamstring injury and will not be available for the first leg. However, striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has resumed training and may start on the bench after missing the 1-1 draw with Valenciennes.
The versatile Stephane Mbia is unlikely to feature despite being close to a comeback to full fitness. Alou Diarra picked up a knock and was substituted at halftime on the weekend, but there is an outside chance he could recover in time and retain his place as one of the two defensive midfielders for the clash in France.
Meanwhile, Inter coach Claudio Ranieri will be looking to halt his side's slide and has nearly a full squad available as center back Walter Samuel is expected to return after recovering from a thigh strain to line up alongside Lucio. Meanwhile, midfielder Dejan Stankovic and striker Diego Milito seem to have overcome bouts of flu that kept them out of the 3-0 loss to Bologna.
Ranieri hinted that playmaker Wesley Sneijder could be dropped to the press, but the Dutchman has been included in the 22-man squad while Ricky Alvarez has been left out.
The Serie A side also revised its Champions League squad list after the winter break, so striker Diego Forlan, as well as midfielders Angelo Palombo and Andrea Poli are all now ready and hoping to make their European debuts for the club.
| |
DID YOU KNOW? |
- Marseille, despite being held to a 1-1 draw with Valenciennes on Saturday, has won 12 of its last 15 matches going into this first leg clash.
- Deschamps' Monaco defeated Ranieri's Chelsea in the semifinals of the 2003-04 Champions League, the former losing in the final to Jose Mourinho's Porto.
- OM has a balanced record against Italian sides over 14 encounters.
- Inter has lost five of its last six matches in all competitions, only scoring during the 4-4 draw with Palermo.
- Forlan has scored just once in 11 Serie A appearances since joining the Italian club during the summer from Atletico Madrid.
- The last time these sides met in Europe, Inter was defeated by OM in the quarterfinals of the 2003-04 UEFA Cup by a 2-0 aggregate score.
For all the latest action, check out the Fox Soccer Plus FREE Trial
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Marseille 1-2 Inter
- 15.78 %
-
Marseille 0-2 Inter
- 11.9 %
-
Marseille 2-1 Inter
- 11.05 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Mar 13, 2012 | Inter 2 - Marseille 1 |
|
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Feb 22, 2012 | Marseille 1 - Inter 0 |
|
Marseille
     |
||
| May 20, 2012 | Sochaux 1 - Marseille 0 | FRA1 |
| May 13, 2012 | Marseille 3 - AJ Auxerre 0 | FRA1 |
| May 7, 2012 | AS Saint-Etienne 0 - Marseille 0 | FRA1 |
| May 2, 2012 | Marseille 1 - AS Nancy-Lorraine 0 | FRA1 |
| Apr 27, 2012 | FC Lorient 2 - Marseille 1 | FRA1 |
Inter
|
||
| May 13, 2012 | Lazio 3 - Inter 1 | ITA1 |
| May 6, 2012 | Inter 4 - Milan 2 | ITA1 |
| May 2, 2012 | Parma 3 - Inter 1 | ITA1 |
| Apr 29, 2012 | Inter 2 - Cesena 1 | ITA1 |
| Apr 25, 2012 | Udinese 1 - Inter 3 | ITA1 |
| 30 | Steve Mandanda | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | César Azpilicueta Tanco | Defender |
| - | N. N'Koulou | Defender |
| 15 | Jérémy Morel | Defender |
| 21 | Souleymane Diawara | Defender |
| 4 | Alou Diarra | Midfielder |
| 7 | Benoît Cheyrou | Midfielder |
| 19 | Morgan Amalfitano | Midfielder |
| 28 | Mathieu Valbuena | Midfielder |
| 20 | André Ayew | Striker |
| 9 | Brandao | Striker |
| 1 | Gennaro Bracigliano | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Djimi Traore | Defender |
| 24 | Rod Fanni | Defender |
| 26 | Jean-Philippe Sabo | Defender |
| 12 | Charles Kaboré | Midfielder |
| 10 | André Pierre Gignac | Striker |
| 23 | Jordan Ayew | Striker |
| 1 | Julio César | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Javier Adelmar Zanetti | Defender |
| 6 | Lucio | Defender |
| 13 | Maicon | Defender |
| 25 | Walter Adrian Samuel | Defender |
| 26 | Cristian Chivu | Defender |
| 5 | Dejan Stankovic | Midfielder |
| 10 | Wesley Sneijder | Midfielder |
| 19 | Esteban Matias Cambiasso | Midfielder |
| 28 | Mauro Matías Zárate | Striker |
| 9 | Diego Forlan Corazo | Striker |
| 12 | Luca Castellazzi | Goalkeeper |
| 23 | Andrea Ranocchia | Defender |
| 55 | Yuto Nagatomo | Defender |
| 20 | Obi | Midfielder |
| 18 | Andrea Poli | Midfielder |
| 7 | Giampaolo Pazzini | Striker |
| 22 | Diego Alberto Milito | Striker |
Results
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
14 | 4 |
|
Mario Gomez
Striker FC Bayern München |
13 | 0 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
10 | 2 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
7 | 0 |
|
Didier Drogba
Striker Chelsea |
6 | 0 |