Real Madrid vs Olympique Marseille | UEFA Champions League | Group Stages | Preview
The Champions League makes its way back to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday for Real Madrid’s home opener against Olympique de Marseille.
After a 216 day hiatus, the anthem of the Champions League will resonate throughout the Santiago Bernabeu once again. Following their drubbing against Zurich in Week 1, Real Madrid seek their first of three possible home victories to take over the driver’s seat en route to the Last 16. Tonight’s opponent is none other than Olympique de Marseille.
The Whites have won their six matches played to date and have all the momentum as leaders of La Liga and Group C of the UCL. The offense has ravaged opponents with 16 goals and the suffocating defense has conceded just four. Manuel Pellegrini is without the services of Lass Diarra, who has a hurt right shoulder, Van Nistelrooy, Metzelder and Arbeloa.
Olympique de Marseille come to town with a revamped team. Players of the likes of Djibril Cisse and Wiltord are no longer around and have been replaced by the former Madridistas Fernando Morientes and Gabriel Heinze. The team sits third in the Ligue 1 table with 14 points and it lost its first Champions League match on its home turf against AC Milan. Their physical prowess and speed ensure that tonight’s showdown will be a difficult test for Real Madrid.
Olympique de Marseille profile
Olympique de Marseille are currently third in the Ligue 1 table with 14 point having won four matches, drawn two and lost one. They are third in the UCL Group C table after dropping the opener at home to Milan. The last time Real Madrid and the French side met was in 2003/04, when the Whites won both legs of the tie.
The club’s beginnings date back to 1892 and seven years later it adopted its current name, Olympique de Marseille. It wasn’t until the early 70′s that the team gained the upper hand in France and added several league and cup titles to its trophy collection, but Olympique really came to prominence under the mandate of Bernard Tapie in the 80′s and 90′s.
With players of the likes of Jean-Pierre Papin, Enzo Francescoli, Didier Deschamps, Basile Boli, Marcel Desailly, Rudi Voller and Eric Cantona, plus the addition of Franz Beckenbauer as head coach, Olympique won four straight Ligue 1 titles and the 1993 Champions League.
Last season came right down to the wire as OM finished just three points behind league champion Girondins. They are currently tied for third with Montpellier in the French league with 14 points.
OM’s extensive list of titles and accoladades includes eight Ligue 1 titles, ten Coupe de France trophies, one Intertoto Cup and one Champions League. With former Madridistas Gabriel Heinze and Fernando Morientes in the lineup, Olympique are hoping for a successful run in Europe’s top competition, which they have participated in for the last three years.
Lass doesn’t make the cut
Pellegrini called up 19 players for the clash against Olympique Marseille. Lass didn’t make the cut due to a shoulder injury. Arbeloa, Metzelder and Van Nistelrooy are still recovering from their respectives injuries. Guti and Ramos are on the list but their participation in the game remains uncertain. Team camp will be set on Tuesday at and next training session will take place on Thursday at 10.30 CET.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Drenthe, Albiol, Garay
Midfielders: Gago, Diarra, Guti, Xabi Alonso, Kaka, Granero, Van der Vaart
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Raul, Higuain
INJURY REPORT
Lass: Rheumatoid arthritis of right shoulder. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym work.
Metzelder: Grade I tear on the right soleus. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym and field work.
Arbeloa: Sprained right knee. Medical treatment and physiotherapy. Gym and field work.
Van Nistelrooy: Grade I rectus femoris injury. Medical treatment and physiotherapy.
Referee: Mr. Martin Hansson (SWE)
Just another Madridista
Junta speak