UEFA Champions League Preview: Olympiacos Vs Olympique de Marseille
French Ligue 1 giants http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Greece-c2908 to face 38-times Greek champions Olympiacos FC at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens in their opening game of the UEFA Champions League group stages.
A winless situation
Marseille head in to tonight’s game against the Greek giants on the back of a five-match winless run in the league. Les Phoceens have so far failed to register a single win in the 2011/2012 Championelle. Furthermore, Didier Deschamps’ men have lost two consecutive
games in the league.
Their first loss of the new season was before the international break when they lost 3-2 to LOSC Lille. In the week 4 of Ligue 1 action, the Rhone giants lost at home to Stade Rennais. Without a single win so far, pressure is on the French giants to record
a win against an Olympiacos side that could prove to be a tough test.
Deschamps admits that his team’s miserable form is “hardly ideal” as they face the Greek champions in a daunting environment. However, the French tactician has demanded his players to go for a win in order to turn things around.
With Marseille already in the relegation zone, Deschamps knows that a win tonight could shape things for the remainder of the season. Overall, Marseille have failed to win in eight Ligue 1 games which is the club’s worst record under the guidance of Deschamps.
While talking to media in a pre-game press conference, Deschamps said, “Of course, it’s hardly ideal in terms of confidence ahead of the Champions League. We have got to get over our disappointment to be ready for the best competition in Europe.”
A win in the Group F game against Olympiacos could definitely be the right result as it could set the tone for Marseille’s aspirations for this season.
Short of match practise
Olympiacos on the other hand have not played a competitive game since April when they beat Larissa. Ernesto Valverde’s players were supposed to play Kavala and Olympiacos Volou in the league. However the two clubs were deemed to the fourth tier of Greek
football after being found guilty of match fixing allegations.
This could be both a blessing and a curse for the Piraeus-based club. Furthermore, Marseille could prove to be the perfect opposition for the Greek giants owing to the French side’s woeful recent form.
A passionate home support that’s always an integral part of Olympiacos culture could give the home team a lot of confidence as they take on the French giants in their first competitive game of the 2011/2012 campaign.
Team news
Marseille
Stephane Mbia is out with a broken metatarsal while doubts remain on the fitness of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Valbuena-c24690 who injured his knee in the 1-0 loss to Stade Rennais. Andre Ayew is still recovering from a groin injury so the Ghanaian might not feature as well.
Olympiacos
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rafik-Djebbour-c30428. However the trio is expected to be fit for the curtain raiser of Group F.
Prediction
Though Marseille have been woeful to say the least this season, Olympiacos might show signs of rustiness after not being able to play a competitive game for more than four months. Marseille could edge this one out as the players have experience of playing
at the top level.
Predicted final score: Olympiacos 0-1 Marseille
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