Marseille Possible starting XI: Mandanda; Taiwo, Diawara, Mbia, Heinze; Cheyrou, Lucho Gonzalez, Cisse; Remy, Brandao, Ayew.

Man Utd Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes; Nani, Berbatov, Rooney.

TEAM NEWS

Marseille
Manager Didier Deschamps has injury problems going into the game, particularly in attack with his three strikers all struggling, meaning he may have to abandon his usual 4-3-3 approach.

Andre-Pierre Gignac will miss the game with a groin injury while Brandao and Loic Remy also failed to finish Friday’s 2-1 win over St Etienne. Remy is tipped to shrug off an ankle knock but Brandao, who also has an ankle problem, is a serious doubt.

Elsewhere French international Mathieu Valbuena has returned to training after a month out with a knee injury and Deschamps will monitor his fitness before deciding whether to thrust him straight back into action.



Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson has been dealt a blow ahead of the meeting in France, as Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Jonny Evans, Anderson and Michael Owen have all been ruled out through injury.

Rafael is a doubt after he hobbled out of the weekend’s FA Cup win over Crawley Town, but he has travelled with the squad.


From Crawley Town to the Champions League
Manchester United return to Champions League action having spent the weekend in a very different environment indeed, sneaking past non-league Crawley Town in the FA Cup, albeit with a vastly changed starting XI.

Yet Sir Alex Ferguson will be confident of progressing at the expense of the French champions, particularly with an away record that reveals United have won nine out of their last 10 away matches in Europe.

The Red Devils also possess the best defensive record in the competition having conceded just one goal in the Champions League so far this season and against a Marseille side with injury problems in attack, will be favourites to progress.

Didier Deschamps hoping to give United the blues
Marseille, meanwhile, face English opposition once again having finished runners-up in Group F to Chelsea, finishing three points behind the west Londoners despite beating the Blues at the Stade Velodrome back in December when a goal from Brandao was enough to secure victory.

Indeed, the French champions bounced back in style from losing their first two matches in the competition by winning four on the bounce including a 7-0 victory over MSK Zilina to secure the biggest away win in Champions League history.

Certainly they will need to replicate that form if they are to oust the Premier League leaders and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the trophy back in 1993.

Match

I so believe in Manchester united any day anywhere, UP UNITED

The match will be finished off in the return leg at old trafford. . .Just can't seem to predict anyffin for now, but United is sure not gonna lose in France.

united all the way

Marseille all the way

TT all the way

Whether mars wins or not but sure is qualification

united all d way, even wen heinz will want to proof himself against his former club

UNITED will surely carry the day.

Give it up 4 united because they hv gud replacement 4 those guys ruled outm 4malling 4 Rio,Js Park 4 Giggs n Chicharito 4 Owen. Jonny Evans is already a flop n therefore has no impact in d united team

Give it up 4 united

Marsielle must surely disgrace Man U. Today they will be disunited. A goal from Taiye.

united can't be stop by any dam team ,not to talk of marseille

I GIVE IT UP TO UNITED, WIN IS MOST LIKELY, AT WORST A DRAW, VERILY VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU UNITED MUST WILL NOT LOOSE.
SOMEBODY SHOUT UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

manutd 4 lyf.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! lets talk about the star game,, Inter Munich

Ayoh-Gmore:

I so believe in Manchester united any day anywhere, UP UNITED

Pls ask wolves Fc

@jude33084
that's why they're in relegation battle One united

Ohh Fletcher!!!!

tubabie:

Ohh Fletcher!!!!

why the surprise? we all know the guy is --%&$£$*&

manu just dey show themselves

;Dup womanU

this ref is manu fan o

Arsenal is leading stoke city 1-0

Kenny_G:

why the surprise, we all know the guy is --%&$£$*&

Who are the "we",  move jor Fletcher has his off days , hope today wont be one of those days.

tubabie:

Who are the "we", move jor Fletcher has his off days , hope today wont be one of those days.

so true, "we" are still awaiting his "On-days", same goes for anderson

Nani just dey show himself for field

Marseille should not attack too much o

ManU is waiting for counter

what're these boys playing? COME ON!!!

baba don stand up o

vinisky:

what're these boys playing? COME ON!!!

Which boys?

@jude33084
My red devils

cough! cough!!