Final score

22 February 2012 20:45

Ol. Marseille
48' (2nd half) A. Ayew
1 - 0
Inter
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir / Linesmen: Duran, Ongun / Fourth official: Uzkalfa / Assistants: Gocek, Yildirim
Minute Text commentary
45' No injury time added and the first half ends 0-0 between Olympique Marseille and Inter
45' Julio Cesar comes out to grab Amalfitano's cross
44' Cambiasso takes a shot that is claimed by Mandanda
42' Free kick for Marseille for Samuel's foul on Brandao. Cheyrou's deflected effort goes into the arms of Julio Cesar
37' Cambiasso passes to Zarate and his weak shot goes into the arms of Mandanda
31' Forlan flagged on a dubious offside call
30' Free kick for Marseille, but Diawara's effort is lacking
28' Zanetti from the right for Cambiasso. Mandanda punches it away
28' Sneijder take a free kick that slams into the wall
26' Diarra deflects Cambiasso's cross away from danger
23' Forlan shoots straight into the arms of Mandanda
22' Lucio heads away from Amalfitano
20' Azpilicueta shoots over the bar from distance
16' Zanetti runs down the right and passes to Zarate in the middle, but he fails to find the target
11' A chance for Inter as Cambiasso's cross reaches Forlan: his right-footer is tipped over the bar by Mandanda
7' Samuel closes down Ayew
6' Counterattack for Inter with Zarate, but he's stopped by Diawara
5' Marseille win a free kick and Cheyrou's attempt is weak
3' Cheyrou's shot goes just wide of the post
1' WELCOME to the Stade Vélodrome. Everything is ready for Olympique Marseille v Inter, the first-leg round-of-16 match of the UEFA Champions League
1' And Olympique Marseille take the kick-off
1' Zanetti, Stankovic and Cambiasso in midfield, with Sneijder, Forlan and Zarate up front
1' To face Olympique Marseille Ranieri has chosen Lucio and Samuel in central defence ahead of Julio Cesar in goal. Maicon and Chivu are full-backs
Minute Text commentary
48' The match ends Olympique Marseille 1-0 Inter
48' GOAL OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE: A. Ayew heads in a corner kick for Marseille
47' A shot from Ayew is stopped by Julio Cesar
45' The referee adds 3 minutes of injury time
44' Ayew again with a header, but Julio Cesar is there
42' Ayew connects on a header but sends the ball high over the bar
39' Substitution for Olympique Marseille: Kaboré comes on for Cheyrou
37' Sneijder finds Nagatomo on the left, but Morel closes down
35' Substitution for Olympique Marseille: Fanni comes on for Azpilicueta
34' A. Ayew heads Amalfitano's cross narrowly wide
29' Yellow card shown to Diawara
28' Cambiasso passes to Obi and Azpilicueta closes down
28' Mandanda blocks a shot from Stankovic
28' Substitution for Olympique Marseille: J. Ayew comes on for Brandao
22' Yellow card shown to Chivu for a foul on Amalfitano. The Romanian will miss the 2nd leg through suspension
20' Sneijder takes a free kick and finds the head of Stankovic, then Cheyrou anticipates Forlan
18' Substitution for Inter: Obi comes on for Zarate
18' A left-footer from Morel goes wide of goal
17' Nagatomo clears a cross from Amalfitano
15' Yellow card shown to Zarate for a foul on Ayew
13' Yellow card shown to Stankovic for a foul on Valbuena
11' Zarate sends in a central pass, but no one is there to take advantage of it
7' Long cross by Amalfitano put out for a corner by Chivu. Valbuena takes it, eventually cleared by Samuel
4' Cambiasso deflects Diawara's effort
3' Brandao gets his head on Morel's cross, but Julio Cesar blocks the effort
2' Mandanda comes out to claim Nagatomo's cross
1' The second half begins between Olympique Marseille and Inter
1' Substitution for Inter: Nagatomo comes on for Maicon. The Brazilian leaves with a knee problem
Zanetti
5.58
5.58
Stankovic
3.86
3.86
Cambiasso
5.47
5.47
Julio Cesar
4.83
4.83
Samuel
5.25
5.25
Maicon
3.7
3.7
Chivu
3.36
3.36
Obi
4.66
4.66
Lucio
4.75
4.75
Sneijder
3.81
3.81
Nagatomo
5.24
5.24
Forlan
5.27
5.27
Zarate
3.06
3.06
Average rating 4.53
5 shots on target 5
9 shots off target 0
18 fouls committed 21
0 corners 0
1 offsides 4
54% ball possession 46%
2003/04 Champions League: Deschamps defeated Ranieri to reach the final... against Mourinho

There have been 2 previous competitive matches between the two coaches, with Ranieri yet to win: 1 win for Deschamps and 1 draw. The previous ones refer to the home-and-away semi-final challenge in the 2003/04 Champions League when Deschamps' Monaco eliminated Ranieri's Chelsea (3-1 in the first leg followed by a 2-2 draw in London), thus arriving in the final. Monaco were then defeated 3-0 by Mourinho's Porto in Gelsenkirchen.

OM v Inter: the French always 1-0 winners

This is the 3rd competitive match between the two teams and Olympique Marseille have always defeated Inter, in both cases 1-0. The previous meetings were in the quarter-finals of the 2003/04 UEFA Cup with Drogba scoring the 46th-minute winner in the first leg in France, followed by Meriem's 74th minute winner in Milan. Olympique Marseille went on to reach the final of the competition, in which they were defeated 0-2 by Valencia in Gothenburg.

Olympique Marseille v Inter: victorious against AC Milan in 1st edition of Champions League

There have been 16 previous meetings between Olympique Marseille and Italian teams, including 2 against Inter, with a record of 6 French wins (including the 1992/93 Champions League final won 1-0 against AC Milan in Munich), 5 draws and 5 Italian wins (including the final of the 1998/99 UEFA Cup won 3-0 by Parma in Moscow). The record of the 7 matches played in Marseille is as follows: 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses.

Inter v France: positive record for Nerazzurri in France

There have been 27 previous competitive matches between Inter and French teams, including those against Olympique Marseille, for a record of 11 Nerazzurri wins, 9 draws and 7 French wins. Inter are taking part in their 14th away match to France and so far enjoy a record of 5 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats.

Marseille, eliminated only once by an Italian team, back in 1972/73

This is the sixth home-and-away challenge between Olympique Marseille and an Italian club. So far the French team has a record of 4 successes and 1 elimination. The four successes came in the 1990/91 European Cup against AC Milan, in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup against Bologna, in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup against Inter, and in the 2006 Intertoto Cup against Lazio. Their elimination occurred in the 1972/73 European Cup against Juventus.

OM, goalless at home in Europe for 201 minutes

The last competitive goal scored at a home match in Europe by Olympique Marseille came on 28 September 2011 in the Champions League when they beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0. The goalscorer was A. Ayew in the 69th minute. From that point, including the remaining 21 minutes of that match, plus the entire Champions League matches lost against Arsenal and Olympiacos F.C., both by a 0-1 scoreline, there have been a total of 201 minutes without a goal scored.

OM, never 3 consecutive home losses in Europe

Olympique Marseille are coming off of two consecutive home defeats in the Champions League after the Arsenal and Olympiacos F.C. matches (both 0-1). The last positive result for the French team came at the Stade Vélodrome in a 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund last 28 September. But the French team has never lost 3 consecutive home matches in European competition. In fact, they have lost two consecutive matches just three other times: the first in the 2003/04 Champions League, the second between the 2008/09 UEFA Cup and the 2009/10 Champions League, and the third between the 2009/10 Europa League and the 2010/11 Champions League.

Inter, eliminated only once by a French team: Marseille

This is the 11th home-and-away elimination series between Inter and a French club and until now the Nerazzurri have a record of 9 successes and 1 elimination. The successes have come against: Lyon (1958/60 Fairs Cup), Monaco (1963/64 European Cup), Nantes (twice: 1980/81 European Cup, 1985/86 UEFA Cup), Guingamp (1996/97 UEFA Cup), Monaco (1996/97 UEFA Cup), Lyon (1997/98 UEFA Cup), Strasbourg (1997/98 UEFA Cup), and Sochaux (2003/04 UEFA Cup). The one elimination suffered came at the hands of Marseille in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup.

Inter, hunting the 200th victory in international competition

Inter are only one step away from their 200th victory in international competition. The current 199 wins are divided as such: 81 in the European Cup/Champions League, 6 in the Cup Winners' Cup, 89 in the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup, 5 in the Intercontinental/Club World Cup, 1 in the Coppa delle Alpi, 1 in the Coppa Piano Rappan, 1 in the Anglo Italian Cup, 4 in the Mundialito Clubs and 11 in the Mitropa Cup. The first international victory for Inter - then called Ambrosiana - came on 15 July 1930 in a 2-4 win away to Ujpest Dozsa in the Mitropa Cup.

The Nerazzurri's goal crisis: 291 goalless minutes, 306 away from home

The last competitive goal scored by Inter came on 1 February in the Serie A in the 4-4 draw at home against Palermo. Each of Inter's goals was scored by Milito, the last one coming in the 69th minute. From that moment, including the remaining 21 minutes of the match, plus the full matches lost against Roma (0-4 away), Novara (0-1 home) and Bologna (0-3 home), there have been a total of 291 goalless minutes. The last competitive away goal was scored on 15 January in the Serie A against AC Milan in a 1-0 victory. The scorer was Milito in the 54th minute. From that moment, including the remaining 36 minutes of that match, as well as the losses to Napoli (0-2 in the Coppa Italia), Lecce and Roma (0-1 and 0-4 respectively in Serie A), there have been a total of 306 goalless minutes away from home.

The Turk Cakir to officiate

Cuneyt Cakir, born in Turkey in 1976 and an international since 2006, will officiate a match with Olympique Marseille for the second time; the previous one came in their 3-1 win against Copenhagen FC in the 2009/10 Europa League. The Turkish ref will officiate a competitive match for Inter for the second time; the previous one coming in a 0-3 loss away to Werder Bremen in the 2010/11 Champions League. Including his previous match with Olympique, it will be Cakir's third competitive one involving a French team, with one win and one loss. It will be Cakir's fifth competitive match involving an Italian team, including a previous one with Inter, and the record is 1 win (Sturm Graz 1-2 Juventus in the 2010/11 Europa League) and 3 defeats (including the Nerazzurri loss mentioned above, Valencia 3-2 Genoa in the 2009/10 Europa League and Villarreal 2-1 Napoli in the 2010/11 Europa League).

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(0) draws(0) defeats(1)

starting lineups

Mandanda 1 Julio Cesar
Azpilicueta 13 Maicon
Diawara 6 Lucio
N'Koulou 25 Samuel
Morel 26 Chivu
Diarra 4 Zanetti
Cheyrou 5 Stankovic
Amalfitano 19 Cambiasso
Valbuena 10 Sneijder
A. Ayew 9 Forlan
Brandao 28 Zarate

substitutes

Bracigliano 12 Castellazzi
Gignac 23 Ranocchia
Kaboré 55 Nagatomo
Traoré 18 Poli
J. Ayew 20 Obi
Fanni 7 Pazzini
Sabo 22 Milito