Champions League Preview: FC Zurich - Olympique Marseille

OM need a win; can Zurich take another scalp?

Oct 20, 2009 3:55:52 PM

More On :  FC Zurich, Olympique de Marseille, FC Zurich vs Olympique de Marseille
Ligue 1 : Hatem Ben Arfa (Olympique de Marseille)
Kick-Off: Wednesday, October 21; 20:45 CET; Letizgrund, Zurich

Poor League Run

When the initial draw was made, FC Zurich would not have given themselves much of a fighting chance in a group which contained three former winners of this competition. However, they have already managed to bloody the noses of AC Milan, courtesy of a 1-0 win in fabled San Siro. That surprise victory has seen FCZ leapfrog Marseille in the group standings and given the French team's woeful away record in Europe, they should be optimistic of adding another three points to their tally. 
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However, Bernard Challandes' side have been off the pace domestically, winning only four of their opening 12 matches and languishing a mammoth 16 points off the summit. Their cup form has been a welcome distraction though; goal difference from their two previous clashes in that series reads 17 for and 0 against but Europe's premier club competition, and indeed their own league, is a different kettle of fish. Three successive defeats on the home front have checked the progress of FCZ and they will be counting on their cup form coming into this tough test.

Down But Not Out

Facing AC Milan and then Real Madrid consecutively is never an easy task and Olympique Marseille duly came up short in their opening two Champions League encounters. Didier Deschamps' side are ailing already in this competition and will surely view the tie at Letzigrund as a must win with those two behemoths on the horizon again.

OM's away form in continental games has been nothing short of pitiful though with six defeats on the spin accrued since beating Liverpool at Anfield in 2007. This statistic needs to be rectified quickly if European football after Christmas is a realistic aim. For sure, the likes of Lucho Gonzalez and Souleymane Diawara did not move to the port city club for that ignominy.

Domestically, OM have started the season in somewhat underwhelming form. After early victories over Grenoble and Lille, the Mediterranean team have started to find life tough in Ligue 1. Defensive frailties became apparent in fixtures against Valenciennes and Monaco.

Nonetheless, Deschamps' men were back to something like their best last weekend, when they produced a complete performance to defeat Nancy 3-0.

A point to note: the side that beat ASNL so comfortably at the weekend had only two of the many additions made to the squad in the summer by Didier Deschamps - Stephane Mbia and Fabrice Abriel.

Form Guide

FC Zurich

October 17 v Locarno (A) Cup WON 7-0

October 4 v Bellinzona (A) League LOST 3-2

September 30 v AC Milan (A) Champions League WON 1-0

September 27 v Neuchatel Xamax (H) League LOST 2-1

September 23 v BSC Young Boys (A) League LOST 3-0

Olympique Marseille

October 17 v Nancy (A) League WON 3-0

October 4 v Monaco (H) League LOST 2-1

September 30 v Real Madrid (A) Champions League LOST 3-0

September 26 v Valenciennes (A) League LOST 3-2

September 19 v Montpellier (H) League WON 4-2

Team News

FC Zurich

Martin Buchel may return from injury after sitting out last weekend's win over Locarno. Eric Hassli will not play until March following a broken leg. Tunisian talisman, Yassine Chikhaoui, remains sidelined.

Possible Starting Line-Up: Leoni; Koch, Barmettler, Tihinen, Rochat; Magairaz, Aegerter, Okonkwo, Gajic, Djuric; Vonlanthen

Olympique Marseille

Souleymane Diawara serves a one-match ban as a result of his sending off against Real Madrid. Stephane Mbia, Taye Taiwo, Hilton, Bakari Kone, Brandao, Mathieu Valbuena and Mamadou Niang have all returned to contention following various injuries. Julien Rodriguez is still out though, as is Cyril Rool.

Possible Starting Line-Up: Mandanda; Bonnart, Hilton, Heinze, Taiwo; Cheyrou, Lucho, Cisse, Valbuena; Niang, Brandao

Players To Watch

FC Zurich - Johan Vonlanthen

The Switzerland international has tried his best to keep the side ticking over during their lean spell; the 23-year-old has netted twice in his last two league matches and FCZ have still contrived to finish on the losing side. He will be aiding his side's quest for a second consecutive Champions League win though and will want to open his own account.

Olympique Marseille - Mamadou Niang

The Senegal front-man has returned from injury and will want to hit the goal trail as soon as possible. There has been a lot of endeavour but little finesse to his contributions in the Champions League this season but he is possessed of the necessary ruthlessness and accuracy to put any team to the sword on his day.

Prediction

So early in their Champions League campaign, les Phoceens are clinging on for dear life. Zurich's domestic form, aside from their weekend win, has been decidedly poor and their win over Milan was more to do with the standard of opposition rather than their own strengths. Marseille need to win to give themselves at least an outside chance of qualification. Didier Deschamps took an unfancied Monaco team all the way to the final and has the nous to take a result from Zurich.

FC Zurich 0-2 Olympique Marseille

Peter Staunton, Goal.com
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