UEFA Champions League: Marseille 0-0 Manchester United

Marseille fans showing their passion.

The Stade Velodrome was the venue for the first leg of this first knockout round between French side Marseille and Manchester United. The visitors were without Michael Owen who was struggling with a groin injury and Anderson was also missing after picking up a knee injury in the FA Cup victory over Crawley Town at Old Trafford on Saturday. The two United twins Rafael and Fabio were uncertain about their injury situation, being substituted in the Crawley   game. For the hosts, Mathieu Valbuena declared himself fit for the match, after being hit with a knee strain- he returned earlier than originally expected-starting on the bench. Loic Remy was the other doubt for Marseille but the lively winger found his place in the starting line-up. Gabriel Heinze started against his former club United, for whom he left for Real Madrid in 2007 after a report his agent was looking for a move  to Liverpool-prevented by United's hierarchy.

 The game kicked off and the atmosphere was electric, Marseille fans showing they're passion, there was an early opportunity for Loic Remy after a testing delivery from the left, the winger failing to control his shot, seeing it go way wide of the target. Patrice Evra was met with a fiesty reception from the home fans on his first touch of the ball, his home nation still not finding forgiveness to the French national team's captain after the horrific world cup campaign for France. In the 7th minute United had their first major opportunity, John O'Shea found Nani with a lovely long ball which was well controlled by the Portuguese winger before being fouled on the right hand side-earning a free-kick. Nani failed to get the ball over the wall but it fell to Fletcher on the edge who hit it first time, making an unsuccessful attempt to wrap his foot around it but a testing effort nonetheless with the keeper making his first real save-well held by Mandanda. It was still 0-0 and with Manchester United's record of only 3 victories out of 11 games in France, there wasn't much optimism for the visitors. In the 21st minute Marseille had a good chance, the threatening Fanni found Brandao with a teasing cross, forcing hesitation for Van Der Sar who changed his mind about coming out. Brandao played it back to Heinze who tried to get the ball in, the danger eventually cleared. Marseille were having a good period of pressure with quick,successive attacks increasing the intensity of the game, Sir Alex Ferguson's men staying strong at the back. Then came another chance when the dangerous presence of Ayew played a wonderful ball into the box, only to be cleared by Chris Smalling who was having a very good game in defence. The resulting corner was cleared. There was another Marseille attack which resulted in a corner- the clearance coming from Smalling. Ayew took the corner and almost completely surprised Edwin Van Der Sar when the corner curled towards the near post, the Dutchman was alert though and managed to prevent any shock goal. There was no added time at the end of the first half- bringing a battling encounter to a break.
Half-Time: 0-0

The second half begun and 4 minutes in there was a collison with Vidic and Brandao leaving the Serbian defender clutching his head on the floor. It appeared that Marseille's Brandao had gone in with a fair challenge but then struck his arm back making contact with Vidic. No punsihment was given to the striker. Luchio provided Marseille with another effort on goal, his cross was met by Brandao but the keeper confortablt saved it. In the 59th minute, Wayne Rooney went for a very ambitious effort, after seeing the keeper off his line he went for the lob, Mandanda tracking back easily and catching the ball. As the hour mark approached Ayew had a great chance to make it 1-0, his half volley just going across the goal and out. Marseille made a substitution bringing on Bruno Cheyrou for Edouard Cisse after 70 minuted had passed. United made a change shortly after, Paul Scholes replacing the below average Darren Gibson. With 15 minutes to go, there was not a lot of action happening and Marseille boss Didier Deschamps'   decided to make a second change with the impressing Loic Remy making way for Mathieu Valbuena . Berbatov almost created a goal, threading through Nani- the ball just closer to the Marseille keeper. There was some very attractive short passing between O'Shea, Fletcher and Berbatov, Fletcher's cross blocked in the end. Towards the end United almost snatched it with a break, Berbatov picking up on a loose ball- almost slicing it perfectly in to Rooney's path with the defender coming in to make a challenge, Rooney felt that he had been fouled.  A corner to Marseille was once again poorly taken by the substitute Valbuena, the last chance for Marseille. Only 1 minute was added on at the end but nothing happened in this small period. The full-tim whistle blew and the game was over. No away goal for United, but 0-0 still a good result in preparation for the return leg at Old Trafford.

Rooney, who had a less productive game than normal. 

Full-Time: Marseille 0-0 Manchester United


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