Olympique de Marseille vs. Olympique Lyonnais

Stade Vélodrome – Week 22, Ligue 1.

The swords are drawn.

The only two teams in French League alive in four championships play in The Olympico at Stade Vélodrome. Not just another League match, but one that will set expectations for greater games to come.

Liverpool are said to be monitoring Tottenham's interest in Marseille striker Loic Remy with a view to pipping the North London side in the race to sign the French international.
The 25 year old striker has previously been linked with a move to the Merseyside club in the summer but no bid was forthcoming but the eight match ban handed down to Uruguayan Luis Suarez and the average form shown by Andy Carroll has led the Anfield side to re-ignite their interest in the Stade Velodrome forward.

A miracle. That's exactly what Lyon needed to go through to the knockout stages of the Champions League after disappointing in the five first games and scoring only on two occasions. To qualify, Les Gones not only needed Ajax to lose, but also had seven goals to catch up on the Dutch side.

By Geoff Reid

Group E
Valencia vs Genk from the Mestalla, Valencia
In what looks to be a tighter group then expected, Valencia know that three points at home against Genk are a must if they want to control their own destiny before the final match day of the group, and qualify for the last 16.

Team news, match facts and quotes ahead of the Champions League Group F fixture between Arsenal and Valencia at Emirates Stadium.

TEAM NEWS

Thomas Vermaelen and Carl Jenkinson are both fit to start. Marouane Chamakh has suffered a knee injury and is not fit, but Yossi Benayoun is available again after sitting out Saturday's win over Chelsea due to the terms of his loan deal.

RvP congratulating Song on a good impression of RvP's celebration at Stamford Bridge

After the euphoria of Saturday's emphatic win at Stamford Bridge, it's time for the players to take their mind of that and concentrate on the next game. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this is just as big a game as the last match.

RvP congratulating Song on a good impression of RvP's celebration at Stamford Bridge

After the euphoria of Saturday's emphatic win at Stamford Bridge, it's time for the players to take their mind of that and concentrate on the next game. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this is just as big a game as the last match.

RvP congratulating Song on a good impression of RvP's celebration at Stamford Bridge

After the euphoria of Saturday's emphatic win at Stamford Bridge, it's time for the players to take their mind of that and concentrate on the next game. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this is just as big a game as the last match.

RvP congratulating Song on a good impression of RvP's celebration at Stamford Bridge

After the euphoria of Saturday's emphatic win at Stamford Bridge, it's time for the players to take their mind of that and concentrate on the next game. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this is just as big a game as the last match.

The goal scorer and the muffler

Not quite the class of the goal that Dennis Bergkamp scored but it was a goal that was enough to send us top of the group with a point ahead of the beaten side, Marseille. Another one of those where the result was more important than the performance. 5 wins out of 6 games now and that is momentum building.

By Geoff Reid

Group E
Bayer Leverkusen vs Valencia from the Bay Arena, Leverkusen
Both of these clubs are looking at this game like a final being that they both meet twice in the next two weeks, and will go a long way in deciding who will join Chelsea in the knockout phase of the tournament.

Team news, manager quotes and match facts ahead of the Champions League Group F fixture between Marseille and Arsenal at Stade Velodrome.

TEAM NEWS

Marseille lacked the services of playmakerMathieu Valbuena at the weekend as they drew 0-0 with Toulouse, but the the diminutive midfielder.

Our first trip to France since 2002 when we beat Auxerre 1-0. A similar scoreline tonight would see Arsenal in the box seat in the group.

Marseilles are in the same type of form as Arsenal, lying 15th in Ligue 1 and struggling to get back in touch with their last season's form. Their win over Borussia shows just what they can do when playing well – our esteemed manager stating he was "surprised and impressed.

Who wants to give me a helping hand?

Arsenal heads to the south of France to continue our Champions League adventure. This is the first of 2 back-to-back matches against Marseille. Stade Velodrome will provide the backdrop for this encounter and this is the same pitch where Dennis Bergkamp scored that immaculate goal for Holland against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

What are the odds Arsenal are outgunned in Marseille? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

After a shocking start to the season which followed the sale of their two best players, Marseille are the French version of Arsenal – as are Arsenal. The French side have won only one of their first 10 games and manager Didier Deschamps was read the riot act by the club's female owner who told him in no uncertain terms to pull his socks up and not leave them lying on the bedroom floor.

Barcelona and Arsenal picked up their first Champions League victories of the season while Marseille made it two wins out of two after thrashing Dortmund.

Winners of the competition in three of the last six seasons, Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw by AC Milan on matchday one, but turned in a clinical performance to win 5-0 at BATE.

By Geoff Reid

Group E
Valencia vs Chelsea from the Estadi de Mestalla, Valencia
The talking point in this one will be the return of former Valencia midfielder Juan Mata to the Mediterranean coast with his current side, Chelsea. Both of these sides are favored to qualify for the knockout phase of the tournament, so the home side expect to win this one, and manager Unai Emery has said as much, and expecting a sold out Mestalla will put the pressure on.

Ao cabo de seis jornadas de Ligue 1, o Olympique de Marseille, vice-campeão francês, soma uns míseros três pontos e é mesmo o "lanterna vermelha" da competição. Os três pontos resultam de três empates nas três primeiras jornadas, tendo averbado três desaires nas rondas seguintes. A equipa treinada por Didier Deschamps recebe amanhã o Évian e há que arrepiar caminho para deixar de ter os mesmos pontos que as reticências.

Ao cabo de seis jornadas de Ligue 1, o Olympique de Marseille, vice-campeão francês, soma uns míseros três pontos e é mesmo o "lanterna vermelha" da competição. Os três pontos resultam de três empates nas três primeiras jornadas, tendo averbado três desaires nas rondas seguintes. A equipa treinada por Didier Deschamps recebe amanhã o Évian e há que arrepiar caminho para deixar de ter os mesmos pontos que as reticências.

* Reborn Napoli celebrated returning to the top of Serie A with a 3-1 home win over Milan, with echoes of titanic clashes between the north and south's giants in the era of Diego Maradona. Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani scored a hat-trick.
*The quest for a level playing-field in Spain goes on.

Our resident writer Rolly Pelovangu is an Arsenal fan and understandable he is starting to become disillusioned by the Arsne Wenger regime. As a result he has put together a comprehensive lists of those who could replace the Arsenal great at the helm. It is February 2012. Arsenal have just suffered a painful home defeat [.

After a thrilling result on Wednesday, Arsenal were drawn as a top seed in the Champions League group draw today, Thursday August 25.

Being seeded meant we avoided such big names as Barcelona, Inter, Bayern and Madrid, but anyone who watches Champions League regularly knows that lower seeded teams can prove difficult.

A canter for Juergen Klopp and his foals

The Champions League group stage is set and Arsenal in Group F find themselves in the company of L'OM, Olympiakos, and Borussia Dortmund. Not an easy group because we play a storied French side that has turned things around, the Greek league champions, and the giant killing Bundesliga champions.

Arsenal are set to miss out on the services of Marseille midfielder Lucho Gonzalez, according to the Ligue 1 club's manager Didier Deschamps.

Arsene Wenger started the afternoon claiming that he had complete faith in the capabilities of his current squad but less than two hours later, he was left wondering just how true that notion really is.

Arsenal have missed out on signing Marseille midfielder Lucho Gonzalez, according to the Ligue 1 side's coach Didier Deschamps.

Ligue 1 runners-up Olympique de Marseille have received a boost ahead of next season's UEFA Champions League group stage by extending coach Didier Deschamps's contract until 2014.

The season ended a mere five days ago, and yet fantacalcio is already in full swing. Thomas Di Benedetto's new look AS Roma seem certain to change coach this summer- maybe- and the side have already been linked with no less than five potentially new allenatori: nearly one per day since the win over Sampdoria.

Who will be the new Chelsea boss? 1. Guus Hiddink Roman didn't want to lose him the first time around after a successful stint at the club. The Dutchman lost just one game during his temporary stint at Stamford Bridge. 2. Marco Van Basten Another Dutchman who has been repeatedly linked with the Chelsea job [.

Marseille manager and former French national and Juventino player, Didier Deschamps, has an expression that says it all after hearing Lille won the Coupe de France final Saturday. Okay we lied, this isn't a picture taken after hearing of Lille's Coupe de France victory. But can't you just picture the Marseille maestro providing a similar contemplative expressive look to.

Marseille manager and former French national and Juventino player, Didier Deschamps, has an expression that says it all after hearing Lille won the Coupe de France final Saturday. Okay we lied, this isn't a picture taken after hearing of Lille's Coupe de France victory. But can't you just picture the Marseille maestro providing a similar contemplative expressive look to.

What's one to do until the highly anticipated Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United (Saturday May 28 btw)? All the big European league winners have been virtually decided over the past couple weekends, and in each case there's been little drama the champions have each been atop their respective tables for some time.

The importance of being Carrick is a post from: Just Football

Michael Carrick is a much-maligned figure at Manchester United these days. Football fans always have at least one silently nominated yet widely acknowledged fall guy, and at Old Trafford this season that honour appears to have been bestowed upon the quiet Geordie number 16.

Liverpool's owners have begun talks with Kenny Dalglish about offering their caretaker manager the position on a permanent basis.
John W Henry and Tom Werner, principal backers of the Fenway Sports Group consortium that owns the club, arrived on Merseyside on Thursday and, despite watching Liverpool's limp elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Braga, yesterday formally started negotiations with Dalglish over a two-year deal.

Image: Getty Images.

Good afternoon, people, and welcome to the second edition of the revamped Kickette 'Midweek Results'.

Yes, we did it! Two weeks in a ruddy row!!

TUESDAY

Champions League

Manchester United 2-1 Marseille (agg 2-1)

Nani.

Wayne Rooney is a man whom, it's fairly safe to say, won't be winning any awards any time soon for most attractive Premier League footballer, or most attractive anything if we're being frank about it. So, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that the Manchester United striker has been speaking to the press about the importance of his team being able to win ugly.

Manchester United's Champions League hopes could be helped by a bitter rift in their opponents camp.
Old Trafford plays host to Marseille on Tuesday night, with the tie delicately poised at 0-0 after the first leg.
However since the sides met on the Mediterranean coast, the defending French champions have been rocked by the arrest of star striker Brandao and a subsequent disagreement between boss Didier Deschamps and president Jean-Claude Dassier.

French champions Olympique Marseille will be looking to secure a favourable result as they host Manchester United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Last 16 tie.

‘Franglais' is the term used to describe a concocted mixture of the finest in the French and English language.

Andy Slater will be tweeting and reporting live from Marseille before, during and after tomorrow's match. Follow along here at The Offside, as well as on Twitter at @Andy_Slater.

As two of Europe's on-form clubs prepare to face each other in the Champions League, both are having to cope with injuries to key players but there is still plenty of class on show for what should be a fascinating contest.

Didier Deschamps is banking on the feverish backing of the Stade Vélodrome crowd to give Marseille a valuable edge in the first leg of their tie against Manchester United, a club the coach describes as "an example to follow". The visitors have a number of injury problems for the trip to France but Sir Alex Ferguson is confident in their ability to cope as his team begin a testing run.

21 April 1999, Stadio Del Alpi, Turin, Champions League Semi Final, second leg - The man who will be trying to mastermind a Marseilles defeat over Manchester United at the Velodrome on Wednesday...
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