French Revelations: Two Down, One To Go – Marseille Aim For Champions League Hat-Trick

Ligue 1 is on the verge of an extremely noteworthy achievement: all three of Le Championnat’s Champions League representatives could still be present in the competition when the knock-out stages commence in mid-February.

Two of France’s elite have already secured their passage into the last 16, a feat that president of the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionel) Frederic Thiriez was only too happy to gush over on Wednesday evening.

“Two French clubs have already qualified after four days of the Champions League - this has never happened,” he enthused on the association’s website. “Bravo Bordeaux! Bravo Lyon! Five wins and a draw in the last two rounds of fixtures after the double success of [Marseille against Zurich] is a unique performance that is a good sign for French football in this competition. France can be proud of its clubs.”

Indeed it can. Bordeaux, who progressed on Tuesday evening, have perhaps raised the most eyebrows. Paired with perennial titans Juventus and Bayern Munich, Laurent Blanc’s men are unbeaten through four matchdays and booked their place in the last 16 with a tactically astute 2-0 success in Germany earlier this week.

Not even touching their best form, les Girondins have proved too good for the out-of-sorts Bavarians and will strongly fancy their chances of securing their spot as Group A champions by continuing a remarkable 15-match winning run at the Stade Chaban-Delmas when Juve visit.

Lyon’s qualification was marginally more dramatic. After three wins from their opening three matches, OL were expected to find the going tough against a Liverpool side who are especially adept at doing just enough just when they need it. Things were going according to plan for Rafael Benitez’s men when Ryan Babel slammed a terrific shot past Hugo Lloris with time running out in France, but there was to be a late twist.

Literally pushing team-mate Cris away as he latched on to a late ball over the top of the Reds’ defence in the final minute of the match, Lisandro Lopez showed just what €24 million can buy you, finishing coolly past Pepe Reina with the fat lady about to take centre stage. OL were understandably delighted, but their head-to-head record against ‘Pool meant that only a home win against pointless Debrecen in the final round of the stage would have been enough in any case.

So, two are through and one remains. The big question is: can Marseille join Bordeaux and Lyon in the knockout rounds?

When head coach Didier Deschamps was building his side in the summer, he was doing so with the Champions League in mind as well as Le Championnat. OM have flopped in each of the past two competitions, but significant summer investment allowed them to construct a team who could at least dream of progressing beyond the group stages.

With two matches remaining, that dream is still burning. However, it could very well be extinguished in Milan if OM fail to produce a stellar performance against the Rossoneri.

And Marseille’s players certainly seem to recognise that very fact. Les Phoceens are only one point behind the Diavoli and Real Madrid, yet they will surely need at least four points from their final matches against the illustrious duo to stand any chance of progression.

Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and midfielder Benoit Cheyrou appeared acutely aware of that fact after they trudged off the field having defeated a feeble-looking FC Zurich 6-1 on Tuesday evening.

“Well, it's a good result with a fine score...But it's not over; there are still other games to win,” Mandanda told the press, doubtless aware that if his side could dismantle the Swiss outfit with such ease, so too can the other sides in the group – in other words, there will be no repeat of the Rossoneri’s San Siro aberration.

With a favour from elsewhere looking impossible, Deschamps' men will have to do it all themselves. But what a mammoth task it is. Realistically, OM will have to win in Milan, scoring at least twice (to ensure parity as a minimum on the head-to-head standings against the Italians), and then hold Real Madrid to a home draw. That would leave them tallying ten points, the best that Leonardo’s side could manage in this scenario.

Los Blancos, short of a couple of Alcorcon-style collapses, may only be a point better off, but they may as well be four points ahead – Marseille will only catch the Spaniards if they claim two wins due to their heavy defeat previously in the Bernabeu.

At least the Frenchmen look a side capable of scoring goals. Brandao may be somewhat unorthodox, but the Brazilian centre-forward does a reasonable job at the point of the attack. Flanked by Mamadou Niang and Bakari Kone, Deschamps has speed, power and skill in abundance in his offence. Niang in particular looks one of the best in the world in his role at the moment.

And the midfield looks pretty solid too. Benoit Cheyrou continues to churn out performances with metronomical assurance, while Stephane Mbia and Edouard Cisse both provide fine cover for the defence. However, Lucho Gonzalez – the club’s record signing – is likely to miss the game in Milan, potentially handing Fabrice Abriel, a man signed primarily for Ligue 1, the greatest test of his career. At 30-years-old, he probably never considered such an opportunity would come his way.

But the real worry comes in the defence. Deschamps continues to squeeze Gabriel Heinze into the rearguard, now favouring him at left-back ahead of Nigerian Taye Taiwo. With Hilton and Souleymane Diawara building a solid understanding in the centre, they seem unlikely to be shifted before the San Siro clash.

Taiwo’s athleticism and attacking ability should be favoured over Heinze’s uncertainty and inability in the full-back role, but Deschamps seems under pressure to make room for one of his big names.

Such a factor, which could be trifling on the domestic scene, may prove to be far more decisive against a behemoth such as Milan or Real, especially in a do-or-die encounter.

Marseille do still hold hope of progressing, but it should be considered very slim, despite their relatively close proximity to the group leaders. Now would be an ideal time for the club’s best performances since they won the inaugural Champions League in 1993.

Do you think OM can do it? Maybe you believe it will be all over in Milan? Who could be the players to lead Deschamps to glory? Goal.com wants to know what you think…

Robin Bairner, Goal.com