Champions League Preview: Olympique Marseille - FC Zurich

In With A Shout

Marseille finally won away from home in the Champions League on matchday 3 when they downed Zurich, 1-0. It was enough to end OM's ignominious run of six successive defeats and finally puts some points on the board for Didier Deschamps' team in this season's edition.

To ensure that they remain competitive in a group laden with European heavyweights, les Phoceens have little option other than to defeat Zurich for the second time in a fortnight.

However, their current run of home form in this competition is only slightly better than their form away from home; the Velodrome side have only managed three wins in three years of competing at this level on their own turf. Furthermore, they have not managed a clean sheet at home since August.

OM tuned up for this midweek clash with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Toulouse and saw midfielder Lucho Gonzalez withdrawn through injury. The weekend previous, the match against PSG was deferred until November 20 due to concerns over swine flu in the Parisien ranks.

Aiming High

Like their French opponents, Zurich come into this Champions League encounter on the back of a 1-1 domestic draw. Bernard Challandes'  team arrested a sequence of three successive defeats in the Swiss Super League with a draw at home to Sion. It means that they remain entrenched in fifth position, a mammoth 15 points from top spot.

However, Zurich will be encouraged by their away form in this competition this season. Wins in Maribor, Ventspils and Milan have ensured that they have managed wins in all their matches in the Champions League this season. Given Marseille's patchy European home form, there is every chance that a reward may be plundered.