UEFA Champions League
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Played
November 23, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Stade Vélodrome — Marseille
Referee:‬ N. Rizzoli‎
Attendance:‬ 25392‎
 

Champions League Preview: Olympique Marseille v Olympiakos

The Ligue 1 giants head into matchday five in the knowledge that a win could seal their place in the last 16. Similarly, Valverde's men could be eliminated at Stade Velodrome

By Mohammed Ali

More On :  Olympiakos Piraeus, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique de Marseille vs Olympiakos Piraeus
Champion's League - Olympiakos vs Marseille - Morel and Lucho Gonzalez
Panoramic

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

MARSEILLE
Marseille
Mandanda;
Azpilicueta, Diawara, N'Koulou, Morel
Lucho Gonzalez, Diarra, Cheyrou,
Ayew, Remy, Valbuena
OLYMPIAKOS
Olympiakos Piraeus 
Costanzo
Torosidis, Papadopoulos, Mellberg, Holebas
Fejsa, Modeste 
Fuster, Fetfatzidis, Mirallas
Djebbour

Olympique de Marseille boss Didier Deschamps is set to recall Mathieu Valbuena to the starting line-up after the diminutive winger sat out Saturday evening's 1-0 defeat to Montpellier. Lucho Gonzalez, who scored the winner when the sides met on matchday one in September, is also likely to return to the fold after coming off the bench at Stade de la Mosson.

Stephane Mbia has been out since August with a broken metatarsal, but the Cameroonian defender could be in contention after making the substitutes bench at the weekend. Rod Fanni is also out after breaking a toe against Arsenal last month, with Nicolas N'Koulou deputising in defence.

Ernesto Valverde has various injury concerns to contend with ahead of his side's do-or-die trip to France. Ariel Ibagaza, Jean Makoun (both knee) and Pablo Orbaiz (groin) have not made the journey, with Lubomir Fejsa overcoming a strained foot to take his place. Kevin Mirallas makes his second trip west after featuring for Belgium against France last week.

Tassos Papazoglou underwent surgery for a knee injury, with David Fuster and Djamel Abdoun travelling after recovering from recent knocks as the Greek champions look to prolong their stay in the Champions League.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Olympique de Marseille have won two out of four Champions League group games so far, with a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal their last outing.
  • L'OM are aiming to qualify for the last 16 for the second time in seven attempts. They achieved this last season on matchday five against Spartak Moscow, winning 3-0. 
  • Didier Deschamps' men won their last fixture at home against Olympiakos, 3-0 in the 1994-95 season.
  • Olympiakos were defeated 1-0 away to Borussia Dortmund on matchday four.
  • Ernesto Valverde's men have only won once in the Champions League this season, beating the German champions on matchday three.
  • Olympiakos could be eliminated from all European competition if they are defeated and Borussia Dortmund beat Arsenal. They won't be able to qualify for the last 16 if they do not win.
  • Similarly, Marseille can qualify on Wednesday if they defeat Olympiakos and Dortmund drop points against Arsenal. A draw will suffice if the English side beat Dortmund at the Emirates. 

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Olympique de Marseille 2-0 Olympiakos Piraeus
    25.84 %
  • Olympique de Marseille 1-0 Olympiakos Piraeus
    16.37 %
  • Olympique de Marseille 2-1 Olympiakos Piraeus
    14.2 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Nov 23, 2011 Olympique de Marseille 0 - Olympiakos Piraeus 1
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Sep 13, 2011 Olympiakos Piraeus 0 - Olympique de Marseille 1
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Last Five Matches
Olympique de Marseille
May 18, 2013AS Saint-Etienne 2 - Olympique de Marseille 0FRA1
May 11, 2013Olympique de Marseille 2 - Toulouse FC 1FRA1
May 4, 2013Olympique de Marseille 2 - SC Bastia 1FRA1
Apr 27, 2013FC Lorient 0 - Olympique de Marseille 1FRA1
Apr 20, 2013Olympique de Marseille 1 - Stade Brestois 29 0FRA1
Olympiakos Piraeus
Apr 21, 2013Olympiakos Piraeus 2 - Panionios 1GRE1
Apr 14, 2013Olympiakos Piraeus 1 - Panathinaikos 1GRE1
Apr 7, 2013AO Platanias 0 - Olympiakos Piraeus 4GRE1
Mar 31, 2013Olympiakos Piraeus 0 - PAOK 0GRE1
Mar 17, 2013Kerkyra 0 - Olympiakos Piraeus 1GRE1
Odds
Returns: Marseille £810.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Draw £80.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Olympiakos £60.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
30Steve MandandaGoalkeeper
50Djimi TraoreDefender
3N. N'KoulouDefender
21Souleymane DiawaraDefender
23Alou DiarraMidfielder
7Benoît CheyrouMidfielder
12Charles KaboréMidfielder
28Mathieu ValbuenaMidfielder
20André AyewStriker
23Jordan AyewStriker
11Loïc RemyStriker
1Gennaro BraciglianoGoalkeeper
28César AzpilicuetaDefender
15Jérémy MorelDefender
8Lucho GonzálezMidfielder
19Morgan AmalfitanoMidfielder
40Stéphane M'BiaMidfielder
10André Pierre GignacStriker
42Balasz MegyeriGoalkeeper
21Avraam PapadopoulosDefender
3François ModestoDefender
2Giannis ManiatisDefender
20Jose HolebasDefender
25MarcanoDefender
4Olof MellbergDefender
-Vasilis TorosidisDefender
19David FusterMidfielder
11Kevin MirallasStriker
10Rafik Zoheir DjebbourStriker
-Franco CostanzoGoalkeeper
92Giannis PotouridisDefender
8Ljubomir FejsaMidfielder
18Giannis FetfatzidisMidfielder
93Djamel AbdounMidfielder
9Marko PantelicStriker
-Francisco YesteMidfielder
Players to Watch
Loïc Remy
Loïc Remy
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 11
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
The French international has been Marseille's saviour at times of mediocrity at the Stade Velodrome. The former Nice man has succeeded where fellow frontman Andre Pierre Gignac has faltered and it has not gone unnoticed in Europe. Pacy, considerable strength, and a keen aerial advantage is just some of the attributes Remy possesses with Olympiakos certainly looking to keep him quiet on Wednesday.
Rafik Zoheir Djebbour
Rafik Zoheir Djebbour
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
4 0 0 0
The 27-year-old French-born Algerian returns to the country of his birth, with a distinct goalscoring record under his belt in 2011-12. Seven goals in seven league games so far, and he also netted his first goal in the Champions League last month against Dortmund. Leading the line on Wednesday evening, the frontman will have to be on his best form as his side fight elimination.
Prediction
Despite a slight setback in form, Marseille are favourites to oust the Greeks, especially when there is a last 16 place at stake. After a gritty 0-0 draw against Arsenal in London displayed their credentials, OM have the talent and guile to seal the deal. For the Kikkoni, they have an atrocious record in France, and it doesn't look to be getting any better.
Editor's Prediction
Marseille 2
Olympiakos 0
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Barcelona 		8 0
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