UEFA Champions League preview: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 Vs Borussia Dortmund
Stade Velodrome, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 will see Olympique de Marseille host German champions Borussia Dortmund in a group stage encounter of this season’s UEFA Champions League on September 28, 2011.
Transcending the difficulties
Ahead of the game, Olympique de Marseille have had a poor run of results. Les Phoceens have won just two games this season. However, Didier Deschamps is hopeful that his side can see the game against Dortmund as a chance to let go their abysmal league form.
At the weekend, the Rhone giants were held to a 1-1 draw against Valenciennes. The draw did little to lift the morale of the Marseille side. Furthermore, the pressure is mounting on Didier Deschamps after Marseille were able to record just one win in eight
Ligue 1 encounters this season.
However, Deschamps is optimistic about his side’s chances of doing well in the Champions League. While talking to La Depeche, the Frenchman said that his team is in good shape and is willing to do well against the German champions.
Though Deschamps admitted that he is playing against a team from Pot 4 (from the draw) and that usually teams from this pot are considered to be weak, the former Juventus coach said that Dortmund are no weak side.
Deschamps knows all about Dortmund after he feature in the Juventus side that lost to the Borussians in the final of the Champions League in 1997. Deschamps has put aside his Ligue 1 problems and is looking forward to do well in Europe’s biggest club competition.
“Every club aspires to play in this competition, and today we are top of our group. I hope it will still be the case tomorrow night. I respect Dortmund's quality but having six points tomorrow night would be ideal,” the 42-year-old added.
A tricky encounter
Borussia Dortmund on the other hand, Borussia Dortmund face a tricky tie away from home and coach Jurgen Klopp has warned his team from getting complacent against the French side that is going through a rough patch.
Sporting Director http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-c25261 Zorc is also of the same opinion and said” "It's a different competition. But the team have of course seen that they reap the reward when they believe in themselves right until the end. In that respect, the victory has done wonders
for their confidence".
Dortmund haven’t really fired from all cylinders so far this season and centre-back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mats-Hummels-c24767 agrees that his team has to step up a notch in order to repeat the performances of last season when they lifted the Bundesliga salad bowl.
"It's down to all of us to step up against Marseille and again against Augsburg on Saturday. None of us our satisfied with just one win," the 22-year-old was quoted saying while talking to Voetball.
Team news
Marseille
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rod-Fanni-c31402 is suspended for the encounter after his red card in a 1-0 win over Olympiacos in the first game. Andre-Pierre Gignac and Stephane M’bia are also missing.
Borussia Dortmund
Goal machine from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sebastian-Kehl-c32732.
Probable lineups
Marseille
Mandanda - Azpilicueta, Diawara, Nkoulou, Traore - Diarra, Kabore - Valbuena, Lucho, Ayew - Remy
Borussia Dortmund
Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Löwe (Schmelzer) - Bender, Kehl - Götze, Kagawa, Perisic - Lewandowski
Predictions
Though Dortmund’s start to the new Bundesliga campaign has been far from satisfactory, the Borussians should be looking to go for a win against Marseille who are in a crisis situation right now. Marseille’s attack would be the major threat if Andre Ayew,
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Valbuena-c24690 and Lucho Gonzalez can strike up a good partnership.
Predicted final score: Marseille 1-2 Dortmund
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