Manchester United (0) v Marseille (0)
Match odds: Man United : 1/2 Draw : 3/1 Marseille : 6/1
French teams have left their mark on Manchester United through the Champions League years. A solitary strike from David Trezeguet for Monaco in 1998 ended United’s quest for glory at the quarter-final stage. Two goalless draws against Lille in 2005 contributed hugely to departure at the group stages. They head into tonight’s game with a clean sheet but without the insurance of an away goal. They daren’t take the challenge of Marseille lightly.
The first leg was a drab affair, where the caution of Marseille coach Didier Deschamps along with United’s reluctance to commit numbers to attack ensured the goalless draw. However Marseille were missing their top scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac and their schemer Mathieu Valbeuna only came off the bench late on and with both most likely in the team tonight they possess a genuine goal threat.
Gignac will replace Brazilian striker Brandao who is absent having been charged with sexual assault last week. While the charge is publicity that Marseille can do without, the Brazilian is not a significant loss. Indeed the French TV commentator Thierry Rolland speaking about Brandao recently mused that “Apart from taking a penalty with a guide dog by his side, I don’t see how he can score goals” Gignac and Loic Remy on the other hand need no guidance in finding the net.
United are boosted by their cup win over Arsenal and the return from injury of Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian is a particularly positive impact on Wayne Rooney and with Nani having recovered from that horrendous Jamie Carragher challenge, Marseille will face a powerful threat on the flanks.
They should prevail but it could be a nervy night at Old Trafford.
Probable teams-
Man United: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Gibson, Valencia, Rooney
Marseille: Mandanda, Fanni, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo, M’Bia, Gonzalez, Valbuena, Remy, A.Ayew, Gignac.
Bayern Munich (1) v Inter Milan (0)
Match Odds: Bayern : 19/20 Draw : 13/5 Inter : 11/4
One of the two teams that contested last year’s final in Madrid will depart tonight. Will it be Bayern Munich? With a manager with one foot out of the door and a form guide that is no guide to form, or will it be Inter? Seemingly reignited under Leonardo before stalling, they are now threading somewhere in between. No-one could possibly call this one but one thing is set in stone. There will be drama.
Bayern by virtue of their away goal lead must go in as favourites but anyone who has followed their season knows they are better equipped than any to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Their vulnerability at the centre of defence has been well documented and if Samuel Eto’o has one of those nights than that slender lead will be evaporated.
It will be interesting to see how Inter approach the game. Will Leonardo want to keep it tight, keep the score the same and see if Bayern get tetchy? Or does he try to blitz them early, and shatter their already brittle confidence?
Inter aren’t exactly flying coming into tonight’s game. They were very fortunate at the weekend in drawing 1-1 with Brescia. They needed a last minute penalty save from Julio Caesar to cling onto the point and the reports that defender Lucio is struggling to be fit for tonight are extremely problematic for the Neazurri given the woeful form of Ivan Cordoba.
Bayern at home with an away goal should go through. Should being the key word. This Bayern don’t do should. Keep your eyes fixed on Bavaria tonight.
Probable teams-
Bayern Munich: Kraft, Lahm, Breno, Tymoshchuk, Contento, Robben, Schweinsteiger, Gustavo, Ribery, Gomez, Mueller
Inter Milan: Cesar, Maicon, Ranocchia, Lucio, Chivu, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Sneijder, Stankovic, Eto’o Pandev
