Marseille v Chelsea – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, and Betting Odds – Champions League – 8 December 2010
Chelsea have a perfect record (5-0-0) in the Champions League group stage as they travel to France to face Marseille. The match will take place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France on Wednesday, December 8, 2010. Kickoff is scheduled for 19:45 GMT (UK time), 20:45 CET (Central Europe), and 14:45 EST (USA Eastern).
Marseille v Chelsea TV Listings
It will be televised on Fox Soccer Plus (USA), Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East), Sky Sports 2 (UK), TF 1 (France), Setanta (Ireland), Sport TV3 (Portugal), Sky Calcio (Italy), Sky Sport (Germany), and on Setanta Sports (Canada).
Marseille v Chelsea Preview
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti
‘It is not easy to explain, I think there are a lot of reasons but we are trying to search for the right way to move on quickly from this moment,’ the 51-year-old explained. ‘We have a possibility to do this tomorrow.
‘It is not important, the result of the game, but the performance is important. We want to do our best and put the best line-up possible because we consider the game important for our confidence, it is important to come back to play our football. The most important reason is we are not playing our football at this moment and we have to come back quickly to play our football.’
‘I spoke with my players, but it is not the right place to explain what I said to them. It is private and confidential!’ he said. ‘I hope that the reaction is good, the training was good yesterday and I hope tomorrow we can have a good reaction. ‘
‘Didier will start the game tomorrow because I am not crazy,’ joked the boss. ‘Drogba is excited to come back to play here, he desires to do his best and show his best quality here.
‘He has very good memories of the period he stayed here in Marseille and tomorrow everyone can see his ability and quality.’
‘When I say strong team it doesn’t mean there are not young players,’ Ancelotti added. ‘Maybe some young players could be involved but I don’t want to say which young players. I didn’t take a decision and want to wait until tomorrow, but obviously we give a lot of important to this game for this reason. We have to come back to play our football.
‘We are in a good position, and also Marseille is already qualified. It would be different if we needed a point here, but we don’t. For us it is important to have a good performance and play good football.
‘Both teams will maintain their shape, and I think it could be the same team we played in London. It was a good game, in balance; Marseille played a good game and tomorrow will be the same.’
Chelsea player Didier Drogba
‘It is important for me and for the team to play better than how we have been doing,’ Drogba said before training in the stadium on Tuesday night.
‘People are saying the game is not important because both teams have qualified [for the Champions League knockout stage] but for us it is important because it can help us to prepare for our game.
‘I have been sick for nearly a month and it is difficult to come back to full fitness very quickly but I’m already happy with the way that I recover – but I know I can do better and I need to do better.
‘We are creating a lot of chances but we score only from set pieces and penalties and this is something we needed to change. We need only one game to change this and why not tomorrow or the game at the weekend? It is very important to play well against Marseille and get our confidence back.’
‘All I can say is I have been six years at Chelsea and I am happy there and my family are happy. Of course Marseille is tempting but there are so many parameters that come into play and I can say that I feel well at Chelsea and I could end it there.
‘I can never forget Marseille because it allowed me to explode and reach another level. I could know the Champions League and it also gave the chance for someone like Jose Mourinho to get me and let me play for Chelsea.’
Marseille player Steve Mandanda
This is certainly the game with less pressure this season, how do you approach?
It is true that the first match I played in the Champions League where there is no pressure. I am preparing quietly and calmly, even though I know there will be a big game Wednesday, but it will also be a good game to play.
OM rest on two rather disappointing results, it can play tomorrow?
It’s a different competition. There were these two results in the league, but the European Cup is something else. It does not have these results in mind-there is a new contest against a big team. We forget the other results and we play this game fully.
Is this a true gala match for OM?
I think the charity match is for the fans and the media. For us players, it remains a Champions League match. It is important to be very concentrated, serious and play that game thoroughly. The small advantage is that not too much pressure. It remains a European Cup match, and therefore an important game.
Didier Drogba will be there your worst enemy tomorrow night?
I do not want to keep scoring Didier Drogba particular, I do not want to take aim at all.Whether Drogba in front, Anelka or Malouda, regardless of the player, our goal is not to make goals and win. Didier Drogba Whether or another player, we will do everything to avoid conceding a goal.
Have you head the first leg and made both goals very quickly?
I have not thought about the leg. It is true that we took a goal a little faster so it has complicated the situation. In the first leg we were overwhelmed by this team, but tomorrow it will be a different game.
The attack Olympian is a little point-death, do you think they will shine on Wednesday?
That’s two games we did not score, but we stayed on a long series where we had scored in every game. These are things that happen, but we do not doubt, nor lack of confidence. We know we have the players to score. I do not worry for the events.
This game could be a good opportunity to regain confidence?
We did not lose confidence! It’s a good game ahead on Wednesday we trust even if it remains on a defeat and a draw, but we’re not losing confidence.
Squads
Chelsea – Cech, Turnbull, Hilario, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, McEachran, Malouda, Drogba, Kalou, Kakuta, Sturridge, Sala, Clifford.
Marseille – Not available
Team Stat Comparison
| Marseille | Chelsea | |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 5 | 5 |
| Table Position | 2 | 1 |
| Points | 9 | 15 |
| Goal Difference | 8 | 11 |
| Goals for * | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| Goals against * | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Last 5 | W-W-W-L-L | W-W-W-W-W |
| Last 5 home | W-L | W-W-W |
| Last 5 away | W-W-L | W-W |
| * Goals per match – home matches for home club and away matches for away club | ||
Competition Stats
| Marseille | Chelsea | |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Andre-Pierre Gignac 3 | Nicolas Anelka 5 |
| Assists | Didier Drogba 2 | |
| Yellows | Stéphane M’Bia 3 | John Mikel Obi 2 |
Tables
| PO | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 15 |
| 2 | Marseille | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| 3 | Spart Moscow | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 6 |
| 4 | MSK Zilina | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 17 | -15 | 0 |
Next Matches
| Marseille | Chelsea | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/8 | Chelsea | 12/8 | @Marseille |
Marseille v Chelsea Prediction
Chelsea wins 2-1
Marseille v Chelsea Betting Odds
Marseille win – 5/4
Draw – 9/4
Chelsea win – 9/4
